Seventy-eight Nigerians who were rescued from human traffickers in Cote d’Ivoire have safely returned to Lagos. The victims, including 73 women, two men, and three babies, arrived at Murtala Muhammed International Airport late Saturday night.
The Director-General of the National Agency for the Prohibition of Trafficking in Persons (NAPTIP), Binta Adamu Bello, received the survivors at the airport. In her address, she emphasized the agency’s dedication to combating human trafficking and ensuring justice for victims.
“Today marks not only the safe return of our beloved daughters but also reaffirms our unwavering commitment to the fight against human trafficking,” Bello stated. “To the young women and girls who have just returned, we say welcome home. You were taken far from the safety and dignity you deserve, but today, you are back on Nigerian soil, and you are not alone.”
She assured the survivors that the Nigerian government stands with them and vowed that traffickers would face justice. “Some of those responsible for this heinous crime have already been apprehended and will face the full force of the law,” she added.
NAPTIP will now profile and counsel the survivors, providing necessary support, including skill acquisition training, to help them reintegrate into society. Bello expressed gratitude to the Federal Government for its support in the fight against human trafficking and commended Air Peace Airlines for facilitating the victims’ return free of charge.
One of the survivors, a 24-year-old pregnant woman, recounted how a friend deceived her into prostitution. “She told me she owned a supermarket and offered me a job paying N300,000 monthly,” the victim said. “But when I arrived, there was no supermarket. She claimed she had spent N3 million on my travel and forced me into prostitution to repay her.”
The woman, now four months pregnant, said she was physically abused when she refused to abort the baby. “She beat me with sticks and even sent men to kick my stomach. I reported to the police when I could no longer endure the torture.”
Another survivor, a 17-year-old girl, narrated how she was lured with the promise of a restaurant job paying 1.5 million CFA monthly. Instead, she and six others were taken to a forest where they were forced into commercial sex work. “Some of my friends never returned—they were killed and dumped on the road,” she said. The teenager also revealed that after multiple forced abortions, the traffickers subjected her to a five-year contraceptive procedure.
Bello urged Nigerians to remain vigilant and report suspicious activities to authorities. “Human trafficking is a grave violation of human dignity. We must all work together to end this scourge,” she said.
The rescue operation highlights the persistent threat of human trafficking in West Africa and the need for stronger cross-border collaboration to protect vulnerable individuals. NAPTIP continues to work with international partners to dismantle trafficking networks and support survivors in rebuilding their lives.
