The Nigerian Navy has handed over seven suspected victims of human trafficking to the National Agency for the Prohibition of Trafficking in Persons (NAPTIP).
The Commanding Officer, FOB, Navy Captain Augustus Amakiri disclosed that the Navy’s Forward Operating Base in Badagry, Lagos State arrested the suspects on October 1 and 3.
The Commanding Officer was represented in the operation by the Base Intelligence Officer, Sub-Lt. H.M. Danwalis.
He said that a routine search and interrogation revealed that four young women, aged 19 to 21, were among the passengers and suspected to be victims of human trafficking.
He said, “Further interrogation of the young ladies revealed that they were unaware of their destinations.
“They said that they had been instructed to call a contact upon their arrival at Panshin Jetty, where someone would pick them up to the Republic of Benin and Mali for a better life. The girls were rescued and kept in the Base custody.”
He said on October 3, another fibre boat with passengers en route Panshi Jetty from Mile 2 was intercepted by the Base QRT at about 6.19 p.m.
He stated, “During routine stop and search of passengers by the QRT, three girls between the ages of 15 to 17 years old, suspected to be victims of human trafficking, were discovered among other passengers.
“Further interrogation of the girls revealed that they were together with one Sharon Idehen, aged 29, along with a one-year and three months old baby in the same boat.”
“The Navy said that the alleged crosser claimed to be an elder relative of the girls and that she was taking them to Ghana for a better life.
“The suspected victims and the alleged crosser were taken into base custody,” the Navy said.
The base intelligence officer said that the handing over to NAPTIP for further investigation and prosecution was in line with the Harmonised Standard Procedures on Arrest, Detention and Prosecution (HSOP-AD&P) 2016.
He stated, “These sustained efforts of FOB Badagry demonstrate its unwavering commitment to maritime security within its Area of Responsibility. These are all geared toward complying with the chief of naval staff strategic directive 2023-6 which is to ensure a safe and secure maritime environment in Nigeria and the Gulf of Guinea.’
The suspected victims were later handed over to a representative of the NAPTIP Zonal Commander, Lagos Zone, Comfort Agboko, at the agency’s office in Ikeja.