In a harrowing crackdown on modern slavery, operatives of the National Agency for the Prohibition of Trafficking in Persons (NAPTIP) have busted a sex trafficking ring operating out of a well-known hotel in Katsina State, rescuing three young women who were being forced into prostitution under inhumane conditions.
According to Vincent Adekoye, the agency’s Press Officer, the sting operation led to the arrest of three key suspects believed to be members of an inter-state human trafficking syndicate. Among the suspects apprehended were the hotel manager and two staff members accused of aiding the trafficking network.
The victims — aged between 21 and 26 and hailing from Benue and Rivers states — were found cramped in a small, poorly ventilated room within the hotel complex. Meanwhile, their traffickers were discovered luxuriating in a separate, well-furnished suite, allegedly enjoying the profits from the exploitation of the young women.
NAPTIP’s preliminary investigations reveal that the syndicate specializes in luring young women from across the country with false promises of lucrative employment, only to force them into sex slavery upon arrival in northern Nigeria and beyond.
One of the rescued victims gave a heart-wrenching account of the daily nightmare she endured.
> “I was brought here by a woman who promised me a good job. I kept asking what kind of work it was, but she told me I’d know when we arrived. When we got to Katsina, we were forced into prostitution. It was never part of the deal,” she said, her voice quivering.
> “Each of us was forced to sleep with at least 20 men every day. Even when we were menstruating or sick, we had no choice. We were given energy drinks at night to stay awake and keep working. All the money we made was collected by a woman called Amarachi — the so-called ‘chairlady’ — and we were left to fend for ourselves,” she sobbed.
The disturbing revelations prompted swift condemnation from NAPTIP’s Director General, Binta Adamu Bello, who described the ordeal as “heartbreaking and utterly inhumane.”
> “I commend our operatives in Katsina for this successful raid and rescue mission. These young women were deceived, trafficked, and subjected to a life of horror. While they endured daily abuse, their traffickers feasted on their pain and profit,” Bello stated.
She also issued a stern warning to hotels and hospitality establishments that turn a blind eye — or worse, actively participate — in human trafficking.
> “Let me reiterate: any hotel or business that aids or abets human trafficking will face the full weight of the law. We have initiated legal proceedings, and justice will be served,” she said.
The operation comes as part of a broader directive by Bello for all NAPTIP commands to intensify surveillance and intelligence gathering across hotspots such as hotels, bars, and motor parks — areas increasingly linked to human trafficking networks.
This latest rescue underscores the disturbing rise of sex trafficking rings in Nigeria and the need for aggressive crackdowns and public awareness. As the rescued survivors begin their journey toward recovery, the nation watches as the wheels of justice begin to turn against their captors.
If you suspect someone is a victim of human trafficking or need help, contact NAPTIP’s 24-hour hotline: 0703 0000 203.
PIONEER NEWS 