The National Agency for the Prohibition of Trafficking in Persons (NAPTIP) has raided a hotel in Onitsha, Anambra State, arresting four suspected traffickers and rescuing 17 victims of human trafficking.

The operation, carried out with military support, also led to the arrest of two suspects accused of buying and selling babies in the Southeast.

NAPTIP confirmed that four of the rescued victims tested positive for HIV and are receiving counselling from caregivers and volunteers of the Anambra State Aids Control Agency (ANSACA).

Director General of NAPTIP, Binta Bello, condemned the traffickers’ actions as a gross violation of human rights.

“This is a criminal act, and NAPTIP has launched a manhunt for their so-called Madam,” she said, thanking the military and the Gender and Human Rights State Response Team for their support.

Bello added that the hotel owner is being interrogated to determine further actions regarding the facility.

Victims’ Accounts

According to NAPTIP’s Head of Press and Public Relations, Vincent Adekoye, intelligence from a non-state actor revealed reports of underage girls within the hotel, prompting the raid.

Residents had earlier raised concerns about the influx of men at the 45-room facility.

The victims disclosed they were trafficked from Benue, Imo, Ebonyi, and Akwa Ibom States for prostitution. Each was reportedly required to pay traffickers between ₦20,000 and ₦25,000 daily after servicing multiple clients.

One victim said: “It was my boyfriend who said he saw a job for me here in Onitsha. I will work for her and pay ₦20,000 daily.”

Another recounted: “Our Madam beat us seriously because we came out of the rooms to see the people who tested us.”

Bello reassured that NAPTIP will intensify efforts to dismantle trafficking cartels. “We shall continue to double our efforts to ensure a good chase for the human trafficking criminal elements in the country,” she said.

The agency urged residents to remain vigilant and report suspicious activities to aid ongoing investigations.