By Ayo Kehinde
Seventy-eight Nigerian victims of human trafficking, including 75 young women and girls, three babies, and two men, were received at the Murtala Muhammed International Airport, Lagos, late Saturday night after being rescued from Côte d’Ivoire.
Their return, facilitated by the National Agency for the Prohibition of Trafficking in Persons (NAPTIP), marks a major breakthrough in the country’s fight against human trafficking.
The rescue was made possible through weeks of coordinated efforts between NAPTIP operatives and international partners.
NAPTIP Press Officer Adekoye Vincent, said the agency revealed that the victims were airlifted free of charge aboard an Air Peace flight sponsored by the airline’s Chairman, Mr Allen Onyema.
Addressing journalists at the airport, NAPTIP Director General, Binta Adamu Bello, welcomed the returnees and pledged a relentless hunt for members of the trafficking syndicate responsible for their ordeal.
“This is a momentous occasion.
“To the young women and girls who have just returned, 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,” Bello said.
She confirmed that some suspects linked to the trafficking ring had already been arrested.
Two individuals were apprehended in Abuja following intelligence from some of the victims, and leads shared by social media activist, Vincent Otse, popularly known as VeryDarkMan, who visited Abidjan and raised public awareness about the victims’ plight.
“We are launching a manhunt for others involved in this heinous trade. There is no hiding place for them,” Bello said, adding that medical examinations, counselling, and tailored vocational training would be provided to the returnees.
At least four of the victims, suspected to be minors, were discovered to be pregnant on arrival.
Speaking on his decision to sponsor the airlift, Air Peace CEO Allen Onyema said, “These girls are Nigerians and deserve dignity. What happened to them is unacceptable. We must all do our part to restore their humanity and give them another chance.” He also disclosed that he had funded medical interventions for the victims.
Many of the returnees recounted chilling experiences of abuse in Abidjan. One of them, Clara (not her real name), said, “I saw hell in Abidjan. Human life means nothing to those madams. But I thank God I’m alive. When the NAPTIP DG spoke to us on the plane, I felt a burden lift. I’m hopeful again.”
NAPTIP reaffirmed its commitment to fighting human trafficking through enforcement, advocacy, and comprehensive rehabilitation of survivors.
