By Nkechi Eze
A major human trafficking operation has been dismantled in Abuja following swift action by operatives of the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC), leading to the rescue of 14 young women and the arrest of two suspected members of a trafficking syndicate.
In a statement signed by the National Public Relations Officer, CSC Afolabi Babawale, the NSCDC confirmed that the breakthrough was achieved by the Commandant General’s Special Intelligence Squad (CG’s SIS) after it received credible intelligence on a coordinated trafficking network preparing to move the women to Egypt and Israel.
According to the statement, intelligence reports revealed that the victims were being temporarily housed at Odogwu Guest House in Gbesa, Abuja Municipal Area Council (AMAC). They were reportedly awaiting onward movement through the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport (NAIA), Abuja, when operatives intercepted a Toyota Sienna vehicle attempting to convey them to the airport. The operation resulted in the immediate arrest of two Nigerian collaborators and the safe rescue of all 14 victims.
Preliminary investigations exposed the scale and sophistication of the trafficking ring. The rescued women, aged between 19 and 47, included 11 Yoruba, one Igbo, one Igede, and one Isoko victim. Thirteen of them were found with international passports and yellow cards, yet none possessed valid entry visas for the supposed destination countries.
The victims, who identified themselves as fashion designers, makeup artists and hairdressers, revealed that they had been deceived with promises of lucrative employment abroad. They also confirmed that the arrested suspects served as local facilitators for principal agents operating from the destination countries.
Following initial profiling, the NSCDC transferred the suspects, victims, and all recovered exhibits to the National Agency for the Prohibition of Trafficking in Persons (NAPTIP) for further investigation and prosecution.
The Corps reiterated its commitment to combating human trafficking in all its forms and strengthening collaboration with NAPTIP and other security agencies. It urged members of the public to continue providing actionable intelligence to support ongoing efforts to dismantle criminal networks and protect vulnerable citizens.
The NSCDC emphasized that safeguarding lives and preventing exploitation remain central to its mandate and assured Nigerians of its unwavering resolve to confront traffickers who prey on the hopes and vulnerabilities of innocent citizens.
