The Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) in the Federal Capital Territory has intercepted 10 individuals suspected of being victims of human trafficking and allegedly prepared for migration abroad. Acting on a tip-off, NSCDC officers apprehended the group at Zuba motor park in Abuja upon their return from Minna, Niger State, where they had purportedly gone to process their international passports as directed by their sponsor.
The victims, aged between 24 and 34 and claiming to be from Ondo State, included one male and nine females. According to the command spokesperson, Samuel Idoko, each victim had paid ₦80,000 for the procurement of their international passports. They were promised migration abroad for ready-made jobs, particularly in North Africa and Canada, by an unidentified sponsor residing in Okitipupa, Ondo State.
FCT Commandant, Olusola Odumosu, warned against the dangers of illegal migration abroad, cautioning individuals to be wary of promises of a better future. He highlighted the risk of exploitation and enslavement, urging people to follow the right channels for traveling abroad to avoid being deceived or exploited.
The victims were handed over to the Nigeria Agency for the Prohibition of Trafficking in Persons (NAPTIP) for further investigation and appropriate legal action. The NSCDC reaffirmed its commitment to combating human trafficking and urged the public to report any suspicious activities related to trafficking or illegal migration.