The Nigerian Navy Forward Operating Base (FOB) in Badagry has successfully intercepted and rescued seven suspected victims of human trafficking in two separate operations, leading to the arrest of an alleged trafficker. The victims, all young girls, were handed over to the National Agency for the Prohibition of Trafficking in Persons (NAPTIP) for further investigation.
In the first operation on October 1, 2024, around 3:20 PM, the Navy’s Quick Response Team (QRT) at the FOB Badagry jetty intercepted a fibre boat heading towards Panshi Jetty from Mile 2. During routine checks, four young women, aged between 19 and 21, were identified as potential victims of human trafficking. Upon interrogation, the girls revealed they were unaware of their exact destination but were instructed to call a contact once they arrived at Panshi Jetty. They were told someone would take them to the Republic of Benin and Mali, promising them a better life.
A similar incident occurred on October 2, 2024, at around 6:19 PM, when another fibre boat heading to Panshi Jetty was intercepted. During the routine stop and search, three more girls, aged between 15 and 17, were found to be victims of suspected trafficking. They were traveling with a woman identified as Mrs. Sharon Idehen, 29, who claimed to be their relative and was allegedly taking them to Ghana for a better life. Mrs. Idehen was arrested, and the girls, along with a one-year-old child, were taken into custody.
On October 4, 2024, the alleged trafficker and the seven victims were formally handed over to NAPTIP’s zonal office in Ikeja, Lagos, for further investigation and prosecution. This action is in line with the Harmonized Standard Procedures on Arrest, Detention, and Prosecution (HSOP-AD&P) 2016.
Navy Captain Bitebobo Augustus Amakiri, the Commanding Officer of FOB Badagry, commended the efforts of the Quick Response Team, noting that the Nigerian Navy’s ongoing commitment to maritime security is aimed at ensuring a safe environment both in Nigeria and the Gulf of Guinea. These operations, he added, align with the Chief of Naval Staff’s Strategic Directive 2023-6, which emphasizes the importance of maritime security.
The Nigerian Navy’s swift response underscores its determination to combat human trafficking and ensure the safety of those at risk within its area of responsibility.