The Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) has successfully thwarted a major human trafficking operation, leading to the rescue of 14 young Nigerian women and the arrest of two suspected syndicate members in Abuja.
The victims, aged between 19 and 47, were rescued from a guest house in Gbesa, Abuja, where they were being held before being transported to the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport for onward travel to Egypt and Israel.
The NSCDC operatives intercepted a Toyota Sienna bus attempting to move the victims to the airport, leading to the arrest of the suspects and the rescue of the victims.
The victims, who claimed to be fashion designers, makeup artists, and hairdressers, were lured with promises of better job opportunities in the destination countries.
The arrested suspects were found to be Nigerian-based collaborators working for principal agents based in the receiving countries.
The NSCDC has handed over the suspects, along with the recovered exhibits, to the National Agency for the Prohibition of Trafficking in Persons (NAPTIP) for further investigation and prosecution.
The NSCDC has reiterated its commitment to combating human trafficking and called on members of the public to provide vital intelligence to help curb the menace.