A combined team from the National Agency for the Prohibition of Trafficking in Persons (NAPTIP) and the Defence Intelligence Agency (DIA) have rescued 20 victims from a transborder criminal syndicate operating an organised criminal network in Nigeria.
According to a statement by NAPTIP’s press officer, Vincent Adekoye, the development was part of a deliberate effort to combat the activities of suspected trans-border criminal syndicates operating within Nigeria and other West African countries.
While victims were rescued from the Republic of Equatorial Guinea and Togo to Nigeria for various forms of labour exploitation, three key individuals believed to be members of the gang have been arrested in a well-coordinated operation, which was carried out in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Osun and Nasarawa states.
Adekoye said the feat was achieved following the directive of the Director-General of NAPTIP, Binta Bello, adding that the agency increased surveillance within border communities across the country to halt the activities of suspected criminal syndicates believed to have infiltrated Nigeria from certain African countries.
He explained that the agency also strengthened collaboration with sister law enforcement agencies and partners to nip the unwholesome activities of the criminal gangs in the bud.