Seven individuals who were on the verge of being trafficked to Baghdad, Iraq, have been rescued by operatives of the National Agency for the Prohibition of Trafficking in Persons (NAPTIP).

The victims were found in a hotel near the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport in Abuja, where they were reportedly being held in preparation for their journey.

Acting on intelligence, NAPTIP officials raided the hotel, located in Zamaru, and arrested the manager on suspicion of involvement in the trafficking operation, according to a statement released by the agency’s Press Officer, Vincent Adekoye.

“Stakeholders had noticed unusual movement of some young girls and strange-looking men within the hotel which raised their suspicion about a possible trafficking activity in the facility,” Adekoye stated.

He further revealed that in recent months, NAPTIP has intercepted at least 60 suspected victims of human trafficking at the Abuja Airport, many of whom were en route to conflict-ridden countries in the Middle East.

Following an investigation, it was discovered that six of the rescued victims were recruited from Lagos, while one came from Delta State.

“As was the case with other rescued victims in the past, they were deceived with a promise of a caregiving job in Iraq and are signed off into slavery by two sets of recruiters whose identities are not known to them,” Adekoye explained.

The agency continues to intensify its efforts to combat human trafficking and ensure that victims receive the necessary support and rehabilitation.