The National Agency for the Prohibition of Trafficking in Persons (NAPTIP) has arrested two suspected human traffickers and rescued two other victims from the suspects.
The suspects, Waukomis Chidiebere Chukwu and Jospeh Okoi Nka who were both paraded on Friday, were arrested, following allegations that the duo are members of a human trafficking syndicate, which specialises in trafficking young girls between the ages of 16 to 26 to India, for sexual exploitation and possible organ harvesting.
It was gathered that the unnamed victims, aged 16 and 22 years were rescued June 9, at an undisclosed hotel and taken to the embassy, where they gave useful informations, leading to the arrest of the two members of the syndicate.
The victims at the embassy narrated how they lured by the victims and made to swear oath of allegiance at two shrines in Delta and Imo States.
One of the victims said she was grateful she was rescued and not trafficked as planned, as she has been living in fear since a close friend of hers, trafficked to India, confided in that she has sex with a minimum of 10 men daily.
Following this revelation, the agency plotted the arrest of the members of the syndicate, and the two suspects in custody, were nabbed in a sting operation, conducted after several days of under cover activities by its operatives.
Briefing the media on the incident, the Director General (DG) of NAPTIP, Prof Fatima Waziri-Azi vowed that the perpetrators of these crimes must face the wrath of the law, as a lot of young girls are victims of these crimes.
Waziri-Azi further disclosed that law enforcement agents are on the trail of the prime suspect, a female, resident in India and that the hotel which harboured the victims, have been placed on red alert as monies were remotely paid by the suspects, on the victim’s behalf.
The DG said items recovered from the suspects will undergo forensic examination as she listed the items to include 28 passports of different African countries Nationalities, laptops and phones.
She said the suspects who run a mobile tour company were also arrested with 10 letter headed papers with different companies name and other items relating to the commission of the crime were also recovered by the suspects at the time of arrest.
She concluded by stating that the result of the forensic examination will be used in the investigation and prosecution of the suspects.