Nigeria’s anti-human trafficking agency said Monday it rescued 17 victims and arrested four suspects during a raid on a hotel in Onitsha, Anambra State.
The National Agency for the Prohibition of Trafficking in Persons said the operation, carried out with military support at a hotel in the 33 area of the commercial city, also led to the arrest of two additional suspects allegedly linked to an interstate baby-trafficking network in the South-East.
In a statement, NAPTIP spokesman Vincent Adekoye said four of the rescued victims tested positive for HIV and are receiving counselling and medical care with support from the Anambra State AIDS Control Agency.
The raid followed intelligence reports indicating the presence of underage girls at the 45-room facility and concerns over their deteriorating health, Adekoye said. Residents had previously complained about suspicious activities at the hotel, including frequent visits by men believed to be patronising minors.
Officials said some of the victims were found with customers during the operation, while others were waiting for clients.
According to preliminary investigations, the victims were recruited from Benue, Imo, Ebonyi and Akwa Ibom states and trafficked to Onitsha for prostitution. They told investigators they were required to remit between 20,000 and 25,000 naira daily to their handler, known as their “madam,” after seeing multiple clients.
One of the victims said she was lured to Onitsha by a promise of employment.
“My boyfriend told me there was a job for me in Onitsha,” she said. “When I arrived, the Madam picked me up and told me I must pay her 20,000 naira every day. She promised that after one year she would give me clothes and 500,000 naira to start a business. It was too late to refuse.”
Another victim, whose HIV status had been disclosed during outreach by health workers, alleged that the handler confiscated medication provided for treatment.
“When they tested us and told me I was infected, they gave us drugs,” she said. “But after they left, our Madam beat us for going out and seized the medicine. She warned us never to seek treatment again.”
NAPTIP Director-General Binta Adamu-Bello condemned the alleged actions of the traffickers and expressed concern over the victims’ health.
“I am devastated by the health condition of the rescued victims and the criminal actions of their so-called Madam, who confiscated life-saving medication,” she said, adding that a manhunt had been launched for the suspect.
Adamu-Bello said the hotel owner had been invited for questioning to determine possible sanctions against the facility and reaffirmed the agency’s commitment to dismantling trafficking networks nationwide.
She warned that traffickers would face tougher enforcement measures, reiterating her pledge to make 2026 “unpleasant” for individuals involved in human trafficking.
