She made this commitment in Lagos while receiving a group of Nigerian victims of human trafficking who were recently rescued and evacuated from Côte d’Ivoire with support from NAPTIP’s international partners.
The Director General of the National Agency for the Prohibition of Trafficking in Persons (NAPTIP), Binta Adamu Bello, has pledged that the agency will deploy all available strategies to arrest and prosecute members of the organised human trafficking network responsible for the recruitment and exploitation of Nigerian girls across the globe.
She made this commitment in Lagos while receiving a group of Nigerian victims of human trafficking who were recently rescued and evacuated from Côte d’Ivoire with support from NAPTIP’s international partners.
According to a statement issued on Saturday by NAPTIP’s Press Officer, Adekoye Vincent, the victims were flown back to Nigeria aboard an Air Peace aircraft.
The rescue follows concerns raised by popular social media influencer Vincent Otse, also known as VeryDarkMan, during a recent visit to Côte d’Ivoire.
Otse drew attention to the plight of Nigerian girls stranded in Abidjan, who had fallen victim to trafficking syndicates.
Acting swiftly, NAPTIP operatives arrested two high-profile individuals allegedly named by some of the victims as their traffickers. The suspects were apprehended in a luxury residence in one of the upscale estates in the Lugbe area of Abuja, the Federal Capital Territory.
NAPTIP also initiated collaborative efforts with partners in Abidjan, which led to the identification, profiling, and eventual rescue of the trafficked victims.
The Air Peace flight carrying the victims arrived at Terminal 2 of the Murtala Muhammed International Airport in Lagos at approximately 10:45 p.m. on Saturday. The returning victims were received by NAPTIP Director General Binta Adamu Bello and the Chief Executive Officer of Air Peace, Mr. Allen Onyema.
Speaking at the airport shortly after their arrival, Bello described the occasion as deeply significant.
“This is a momentous occasion, a day that marks not only the safe return of our beloved daughters but also a reaffirmation of our unwavering commitment to the fight against human trafficking,” she said.
“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; this Country stands with you.”
She continued, “And to those who have perpetuated this evil, let today be a reminder that Nigeria will never relent in pursuing justice.
“We have also apprehended some of those responsible for this heinous trade, and they will face the full force of the law.
“Let me assure every Nigerian that NAPTIP remains ever committed, ever vigilant, and ever determined to end human trafficking in Nigeria. We will continue to work tirelessly to combat human trafficking, prosecute the traffickers, and protect and rehabilitate the victims. This is our sole duty.”
Regarding the plan to support the victims, the Director General stated, “We have just received them a while ago, our officers shall commence detailed profiling of each and every one of them in addition to a medical check to determine their health status.
“Thereafter, we shall counsel them and allow them to express themselves in the area of skill they want, and they will be adequately trained.”
“In addition to this, we shall commence a serious manhunt for their traffickers and ensure that they are brought to justice. There is no hidden place for them anywhere,” the NAPTIP Director General added.
Also speaking at the airport, the Chief Executive Officer of Air Peace, Mr. Allen Onyema, said his decision to evacuate the victims at no cost was driven by a desire to stand in solidarity with them and support their recovery from the trauma they had endured.
He added that this gesture was in addition to the medical assistance he had already provided for all the rescued individuals.
A total of 78 victims were evacuated, including 75 female adults aged between 13 and 30 years, three babies, and two male adults. Many of them appeared malnourished, visibly battered, and dishevelled—clear signs of the severe abuse and exploitation they had suffered.
Disturbingly, about four of the victims—mostly underage girls—were found to be pregnant.
Speaking to journalists, one of the victims, identified as Clara (not her real name), said the trauma she experienced in Abidjan was so profound that she feared she might never fully recover.
She said, “I thank God that I am alive today. I saw hell in Abidjan, and I may not be able to forget the suffering and pain I passed through forever.
“Human life is worth nothing in the hands of those ‘madams’ over there. I thank the Director General of NAPTIP who personally came to the airport to receive us. She spoke and encouraged us. Since that time that she spoke to us inside the aircraft before we came out, my spirit is happy again. I thank the owner of Air Peace also.”
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