Traffickers Busted In Katsina! NAPTIP Rescues Three In Daring Operation

Operatives of the National Agency for the Prohibition of Trafficking in Persons (NAPTIP) have dismantled a cross-state human trafficking syndicate operating out of Katsina State, rescuing three young women who were allegedly coerced into prostitution.....KINDLY READ THE FULL STORY HERE▶

The operation, spearheaded by NAPTIP’s Katsina Command, also led to the arrest of three suspected traffickers, including the manager of a well-known hotel in Katsina township, where the victims were discovered.

According to NAPTIP, the victims—aged between 21 and 26—were brought from Benue and Rivers States under the false promise of lucrative employment, only to be forced into sex work upon their arrival in Katsina.

One of the victims shared a heartbreaking testimony:

“A woman brought me here, promising a good job. But when we arrived, they told us we’d be doing prostitution. We sleep with at least 20 men a day, and all the money goes to someone they call ‘Amarachi’.”

The survivors further revealed they were constantly monitored by guards, forced to work even when sick or menstruating, and given energy drinks like Fearless to endure their grueling ordeal.

In a statement issued on July 9, 2025, NAPTIP’s Press Officer, Vincent Adekoye, confirmed that the rescue followed a directive from the agency’s Director General, Binta Adamu Bello, OON, mandating increased surveillance around hotels, motor parks, and entertainment venues.

Adekoye said the women were found in a cramped, poorly maintained room, while the traffickers were lodged in a well-furnished suite within the same hotel—allegedly profiting from the exploitation.

Reacting to the successful operation, DG Binta Bello condemned the role of hotel operators complicit in such heinous crimes:

“These women were lured, trafficked, and exploited while their traffickers lived in comfort nearby. We have initiated legal proceedings against the suspects and the hotel involved.”

NAPTIP warned that hospitality and transport businesses that assist trafficking networks will be held accountable under Nigerian law.

“We will not hesitate to shut down establishments found aiding or covering up human trafficking activities,” Bello emphasized.

The agency assured the public that the rescued women are now receiving psychosocial care and rehabilitation, while the arrested suspects face prosecution.