NSCDC busts trafficking ring, foils attempt to move 14 women to Egypt and Israel
The Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) has uncovered and disrupted a major human trafficking operation in Abuja, rescuing 14 women and arresting two members of the suspected syndicate behind the scheme.
According to a statement by NSCDC spokesperson Afolabi Babawale, the operation was executed by the Commandant General’s Special Intelligence Squad (CG’s SIS) following credible intelligence about a coordinated plot to traffic the victims to Egypt and Israel.
The intelligence, Babawale explained, revealed that the women were being temporarily lodged at Odogwu Guest House in Gbesa, Abuja Municipal Area Council (AMAC), where they were being prepared for immediate travel through the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport (NAIA).
Acting swiftly, NSCDC operatives intercepted a Toyota Sienna vehicle conveying the victims to the airport, resulting in the arrest of two alleged Nigerian collaborators and the safe rescue of all 14 women.
Preliminary investigations, he said, exposed the scale of the operation. The victims—aged between 19 and 47—comprised 11 Yoruba, one Igbo, one Igede and one Isoko woman. Thirteen of them had international passports and yellow cards, but none possessed valid entry visas for the countries they were being trafficked to.
The women, who identified themselves as fashion designers, makeup artists, and hairdressers, admitted they had been deceived with promises of lucrative job opportunities abroad. They also confirmed that the arrested suspects were local facilitators working with foreign-based traffickers coordinating the journey from the destination countries.
Babawale added that the suspects, the location used for the operation, and all recovered items have been fully documented and handed over to the National Agency for the Prohibition of Trafficking in Persons (NAPTIP) for further investigation and prosecution.
He reaffirmed the Corps’ commitment to collaborating with other security and anti-trafficking bodies to tackle the menace, urging Nigerians to continue providing actionable intelligence to strengthen the fight against human trafficking and protect vulnerable citizens.
