The Nigerian Navy’s Forward Operating Base (FOB) in Badagry, Lagos, has rescued nine young women suspected to be victims of human trafficking and handed them over to the National Agency for Prohibition of Trafficking in Persons (NAPTIP). Lieutenant B.C. Awodeyi, the Base Information Officer, confirmed the handover in a statement on Wednesday.
The first interception occurred on October 11 when the FOB’s Quick Response Team (QRT), stationed at T-Junction in Badagry, conducted a routine stop-and-search operation on a fibre boat travelling from Mile 2, Lagos, to Panshi Jetty. During this search, five young women, aged 19 to 32, were discovered among the passengers.
Upon questioning, the women revealed they had been instructed to contact an unknown individual upon arrival at Panshin, who would then escort them to the Republic of Benin and Ghana. The women, unaware of their final destinations, were taken into custody by the Navy.
A similar incident occurred two days later on October 13, when the QRT intercepted another boat at Tongeji Island, Badagry. This time, four women, aged 19 to 24, were found and similarly disclosed that they were instructed to call a contact number once they reached their destination, with promises of being transported to Guinea and Togo. These individuals were also brought under Navy protection.
Following these operations, the Navy transferred all nine rescued women to NAPTIP’s zonal office in Ikeja, Lagos, on October 15, where further investigations are underway. This move aligns with the 2016 Harmonised Standard Procedures on Arrest, Detention, and Prosecution and underscores the Navy’s commitment to maritime security within its jurisdiction.
Awodeyi emphasised that these rescue operations reflect the Navy’s dedication to combating human trafficking and ensuring a secure maritime environment in line with the Chief of Naval Staff’s Strategic Directive 2023-2026. The directive aims to promote safety in Nigerian waters and the Gulf of Guinea, where trafficking activities remain a significant concern.
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