Onitsha: NAPTIP raids hotel, arrests four, rescues 17 trafficking victims

2026-02-02 - 16:09

By Favour Ulebor, Abuja The National Agency for the Prohibition of Trafficking in Persons NAPTIP has raided a popular hotel in Onitsha, Anambra State, arrested four suspected human traffickers and rescued 17 alleged victims of trafficking. In a press release signed by the Head, Press and Public Relations Unit, Mr Vincent Adekoye, on Monday, the agency said the operation was part of its renewed onslaught against human trafficking across the country. NAPTIP said the raid was carried out at a highly rated hotel located around the 33 area of Onitsha, with the support of the military. The agency also disclosed that during the coordinated operations, two additional suspects allegedly involved in the selling and buying of babies within states in the South East region were apprehended. According to the agency, four of the rescued victims were found to be infected with HIV and are currently receiving counselling from a team of caregivers from NAPTIP, alongside volunteers from the Anambra State Aids Control Agency ANSACA. The agency explained that the operation followed credible intelligence from a non state actor based in Anambra State, which indicated the presence of underage girls at the facility. It added that concerns had earlier been raised by residents of the area over the activities of the hotel operators and the frequent influx of men to the premises. Investigations revealed that the victims were recruited from Benue, Imo, Ebonyi and Akwa Ibom States and trafficked to Onitsha for alleged prostitution. One of the victims narrated her experience, saying: “It was my boyfriend who said he saw a job for me here in Onitsha. When I arrived here, the Madam sent someone to pick me at the park and she introduced me to this hustling job. She said I will work for her and pay N20, 000 daily and that at the end of the year, she will buy me a box filled with assorted clothes and the sum of N500, 000 so that I can be free to go and start my own work. It is not with a good mind that I am doing this job, but it was too late for me to refuse”. Another victim, whose health status was compromised, said: “When the people care here to test us. They told me that I have been infested, and they advised me and my friends that we need to start treatment to flush out the infection. They gave us medicine. But, after they left, our Madam beat us seriously because we came out of the rooms to see the people who tested us. She collected the medicine they gave to us and warned us that we should never go out for any treatment again. I cried and cried for hours, and the more I cried, the more she beat me”. Speaking on the development, the Director General of NAPTIP, Mrs Binta Adamu Bello, expressed sadness over the plight of the victims and their health condition. She said, “I want to sincerely thank the Military in Onitsha for their support to NAPTIP during this operation, and also the Gender and Human Rights State Response Team GHR SRT domiciled under the Anambra State Aids Control Agency ANSACA in the Office of the Governor who provided timely intervention and collaboration that led to the rescue of the underage girls. “I am most devastated by the health status of the rescued victims and the action of their so called Madam who not only collected the Antiretroviral medicines that were given to them by the good spirited Organization that visited the hotel, but also prevented them from assessing any further medical opportunity. This is a criminal act and NAPTIP has launched a manhunt for her. “The Agency has also invited the owner of the hotel for interrogation with a view to determining the next sanction on the facility. “As said few weeks ago, NAPTIP shall continue to double its efforts and scale up activities to ensure a good chase for the human trafficking criminal elements in the Country”, she stated. NAPTIP reaffirmed its commitment to intensifying efforts to dismantle trafficking networks and protect vulnerable persons across Nigeria.