The Nigerian Navy said its operatives have rescued 15 victims of human trafficking during different operations on the Lagos waterways.
The trafficking victims who have been handed over to the Nigeria Immigration Service (NIS) were rescued by the Forward Operating Base (FOB) of the Nigerian Navy in Lagos
Lt. B. C. Awodeyi, the Base Information Officer, disclosed this in a statement made available to the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on Thursday in Badagry, Lagos State.
Awodeyi said that on Sept. 30, the Base Quick Response Team (QRT) deployed at Tongeji Island, off the coast of Badagry, intercepted a fibre passenger boat at Panshin Jetty Owode, Badagry, Lagos State, enroute Republic of Benin.
“After the routine search and interrogation to confirm the items on the boat and destination of the passengers, eight young ladies between the ages of 19 and 24, suspected to be victims of human trafficking, were discovered on board.
“Similarly, at about 8.20.p.m, on the same day, the Base QRT deployed at the Base jetty intercepted another fibre passenger boat transiting to Benin Republic and rescued four other young ladies, suspected to be victims of human trafficking.”
He said that the 12 suspected victims of human trafficking have been handed over to the Nigeria Immigration Service (NIS), Seme Border Command, Lagos State, for further investigation,.
In another development, the FOB has handed over three additional victims of human trafficking to the National Agency for Prohibition of Trafficking in Persons (NAPTIP).
Awodeyi stated that the alleged trafficker and the suspected victims were intercepted on a fibre passenger boat on Sept. 30 at 1.30.p.m, by the Base QRT deployed at Tongeji Island.
He said that the boat was conveying its passengers to Republic of Benin en-route Panshin Jetty Owode.
“After the routine search and interrogation to confirm the items in the boat and destination of the passengers, it was discovered that three young ladies between the ages of 19 and 21 were on board, suspected to be victims of human trafficking.
“The suspected human trafficker, had planned to cross the young ladies to Benin Republic and Cote d’ivoire respectively.
“The suspected human trafficker was arrested and the victims rescued,” the FOB spokesman said..
He said that the suspected trafficker and three victims were, on Wednesday, handed over to officials of NAPTIP, Zonal office in Ikeja, Lagos.
“This is in line with the Harmonized Standard Procedures on Arrest, Detention and Prosecution (HSOP-AD&P) 2016.
“These sustained efforts of Nigerian Navy FOB, Badagry, demonstrates its unwavering commitment to maritime security within its Area Of Responsibility (AOR).
“We are all geared towards complying with the Chief of Naval Staff (CNS) Strategic Directive 2023-2026, which is to ensure a safe and secure maritime environment in Nigeria and the Gulf of Guinea,” Awodeyi stated.
(NAN)
