Public outcry prompted NAPTIP’s swift action, resulting in Thursday’s raid on the suspects’ secure residence and syndicate hub
NAPTIP Raids Abuja Mansion, Nabs Suspected Traffickers Tied to Côte D’Ivoire Sex Trade
In a high-stakes operation, the National Agency for the Prohibition of Trafficking in Persons (NAPTIP) stormed a lavish mansion in Abuja’s Lugbe district, apprehending two key figures in a major human trafficking network spanning West Africa.
The suspects, Emmanuel Uzor Igwe, 32, and Ugochukwu Christian, 30, were detained after a raid triggered by explosive social media exposés from activist Martins Vincent Otse, known as VeryDarkMan (VDM).
Otse’s viral videos, filmed during a trip to Côte D’Ivoire, revealed a chilling trafficking pipeline smuggling Nigerian children—some as young as 12—from northern Nigeria through Niger Republic into sexual exploitation.
The public outcry spurred NAPTIP’s swift response, leading to Thursday’s raid on the suspects’ heavily secured residence, which doubled as the syndicate’s hub. During the operation, authorities rescued two female victims caught in an active scene of exploitation.
NAPTIP spokesperson Vincent Adekoye disclosed that one victim was lured with false promises of a retail job in Côte D’Ivoire, only to be ensnared in a trafficking scheme. She described being forced to swear a secrecy oath at a shrine near Abuja, tying her to the traffickers’ control. The arrested suspects, identified through Otse’s footage, allegedly demanded victims repay 2.2 million CFA francs via forced prostitution, threatening vengeance for non-compliance.
NAPTIP Director General Binta Adamu Bello denounced the syndicate’s “vile” activities, pledging to dismantle trafficking networks across borders. “This is only the start,” she stated, emphasizing collaboration with regional partners to ensure justice. Bello also commended Otse’s activism, crediting his work with amplifying the fight against trafficking.
The suspects remain in custody as investigations deepen, with NAPTIP anticipating further arrests. “Traffickers have no place to hide,” Bello warned. “We will make Nigeria a graveyard for their operations.” Read More
