The National Agency for the Prohibition of Trafficking in Persons (NAPTIP) has intensified nationwide raids to curb human trafficking. Since 2024, operatives have targeted at least eight hotels and similar facilities across Nigeria. The agency has rescued 74 trafficking victims and arrested over 20 suspects so far. Operations focused on Abuja, Kano, Katsina, and Anambra states, where traffickers increasingly harbour victims.
NAPTIP reports that traffickers now target youths with computer skills and clean health records. In February 2026, the Kano Zonal Command rescued seven women preparing for trafficking to Baghdad. Two suspects were arrested during the operation, while one remains at large. Earlier, on February 2, 2026, NAPTIP raided a hotel near Onitsha, Anambra State, rescuing 17 victims and arresting four traffickers, including two involved in baby trafficking.
Some rescued victims tested positive for HIV and are receiving counselling from health agencies. Victims revealed recruitment from Benue, Imo, Ebonyi, and Akwa Ibom states for forced prostitution, with daily remittances of N20,000 to N25,000 sent to their handlers. Previous raids in 2025 rescued victims bound for Iraq and dismantled interstate syndicates. Hotels often serve as “muster points,” where traffickers brief victims on evading law enforcement.
In 2025, NAPTIP secured 93 convictions and intercepted over 2,500 potential victims nationwide. Additionally, 78 Nigerian victims were repatriated from Côte d’Ivoire, mostly women and infants. The agency also rescued 23 youths from Thailand forced into cyber-enabled scams in Southeast Asia. Director-General Binta Bello emphasized that traffickers and their enablers would face strict consequences. She urged hotel operators and the public to report suspicious activities immediately. Public awareness campaigns remain essential to prevent human trafficking and protect vulnerable Nigerians.
