Photo: NAPTIP DG, Fatima Waziri-Azi
By Deborah Nnamdi
The Forward Operating Base of the Nigerian Navy, Badagry, Lagos State, has rescued seven suspected victims of human trafficking in Badagry.
Lieutenant Bunmi Awodeyi, the Base Information Officer, revealed the development in a statement he issued on Saturday in Badagry.
Awodeyi said the suspected victims of human trafficking were intercepted on November 12 and 13.
According to her: “At about 5.00.p.m. on Nov.12, FOB Badagry Quick Response Team (QRT) deployed at Market Outpost location, Badagry intercepted a fibre boat with passengers at Marina jetty en-route Panshi Owode, Lagos.
“During the routine stop and search of passengers by the QRT at the jetty, it was discovered that three young ladies suspected to be victims of human trafficking were among the passengers.
“Consequently, after much interrogation, the young ladies revealed that they were unaware of their destinations.
“But disclosed that they had been instructed to call a contact number written on a sheet of paper issued to them upon arrival at Panshin, where someone would pick them up to the Republic of Benin and Togo for a better life.
“The three suspected victims aged between 18 and 20 years were rescued and kept in Base custody.”
Awodeyi added that the Base QRT at the Base Jetty, at about 12:55 pm on November 13, intercepted another fibre boat with passengers en route to Panshi Jetty from Mile 2.
She said: “During the routine stop and search of passengers by the QRT at the jetty, it was discovered that four young ladies suspected to be victims of human trafficking were among the passengers.
“they disclosed that they were unaware of their destination but had been instructed to call a contact number upon arrival at Panshin, where someone would pick them up to the Republic of Benin and Senegal for a better life.
“The four suspected victims aged 21 to 24 years were rescued and kept in Base custody.”
Awodeyi said the handing over to NAPTIP for further investigation and prosecution is in line with the Harmonised Standard Procedures on Arrest, Detention and Prosecution (HSOP-AD&P), 2016.
She said 47 young ladies had been handed over to NAPTIP and Nigeria Immigration Service since July 2024.
She added: “These sustained efforts of FOB Badagry demonstrate its unwavering commitment to maritime security within its Area of Responsibility.
“These are all geared towards 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,” she said.
