The National Agency for the Prohibition of Trafficking In Persons (NAPTIP) has arrested two suspects in Abuja over alleged human trafficking.
The suspects are Awulonu Franklin and Joseph Ukaluo.
The agency’s director-general, Fatima Waziri-Azi, disclosed on Friday that officers of the agency busted the trafficking syndicate on June 9 at about 11:00 a.m.
She said the suspects are part of a syndicate that specialises in moving young female Nigerians between 16 to 26 to India for sexual exploitation and possible organ harvesting.
Ms Waziri-Azi said a sting operation was conducted after several days of undercover activity by operatives of the agency.
She said two female victims between 16 and 22 were rescued just as they were taken to the embassy.
The DG disclosed that the suspects forced the victims to swear an oath of allegiance in two shrines in Delta and Imo.
Ms Waziri-Azi stated that one of the victims also revealed how her very close friend, who had already been trafficked to India, was subjected to having sex with a minimum of 10 men daily.
She further said the agency was on the trail of the suspects’ accomplices in India.
The DG said that the two suspects, who claimed to be operating a mobile tour company at the time of their arrest, were found in possession of 28 passports.
She said some passports indicated that the victims were from Ghana, the Republic of Benin, Niger Republic and other countries.
Ms Waziri-Azi listed other materials found in the suspects’ possession as laptop, phones, which are under forensic examination, and other equipment related to the commission of the crime.
She disclosed that 10 letter-headed papers belonging to different companies were also recovered from the suspects.
The DG said the agency had placed the hotel where the victims were harboured on red alert as money was paid on behalf of the victims.
She said the agency had collaborated with many organisations and governments to launch a fresh angle to the fight against crime.
However, Mr Franklin, believed to be a prime suspect in the offence, denied involvement in trafficking, saying he only operates a travel and tour company through which he had assisted many people.
He said some passports recovered belonged to some of his clients travelling to study in some countries, including a University in India.
“My company is registered as ‘Endless travel and tour agent’, and I have been in this business since 2018,” he said.
Mr Ukaluo also said he knew Mr Franklin as a travel agent and nothing more than that, adding that they had both lived in the same neighbourhood for many years.
Daniel Atokolo, Director, Investigation and Monitoring Department, told journalists that an investigation is ongoing into the matter.