THE operatives of the National Agency for the Prohibition of Trafficking in Persons have intercepted and rescued 10 Nigerian youths who were being trafficked to Moscow, Russia, using World Cup as a decoy.
They were intercepted on Saturday night at the Murtala Muhammed International Airport (MMIA) in an operation code-named ‘’Operation BLOCK’’ while trying to board a Turkish Airline flight to Russia using the 2018 World Cup tagged ‘’Russia 2018’’ as an avenue for travelling to Russia.
This was contained in a statement by the Head, Public Relations Unit of NAPTIP, and signed by Mr Vincent Adekoye, on Sunday in Abuja.
Adekoye disclosed that the rescued victims comprise nine young girls and one boy, adding that five of the rescued persons were from Edo State, three Delta State, one from Imo State and the other from Benue State.
He further indicated that eight of them reside in Benin City while the other 2 reside in Warri and Osogbo respectively.
“It was from these locations that they were moved simultaneously on Friday to Lagos for the journey to Russia. They all had the FIFA Fan ID,” he said.
He disclosed that five suspects including a Police Sergeant and a Quarantine Officer were also arrested as they were caught coordinating the movement of the victims.
Those arrested are Esan Matthew (Policeman), Stephen Fayemiwo (Quarantine Officer) Azeez Olowo, Idowu Fashakin and Eni Godwin.
Director-General of NAPTIP, Dame Julie Okah-Donli had penultimate week alerted the nation through the media that criminal gangs were on the prowl using the relaxed entry into Russia for the 2018 World Cup to recruit Nigerian youths to Russia for exploitation.
She also stated that operatives of the Agency were working on some intelligence gathered and were on the trail of the criminal gangs and their potential victims.
‘’These traffickers have continued to mount pressure on some youths and their parents forcing them to part with huge sums of money in exchange for a Russian visa’’, she said on that occasion.
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“On Friday the potential victims commenced their movement to Lagos from their various locations to meet their recruiters as they had agreed and NAPTIP operatives who have been following their communications followed them up until they were stopped at the point of departure at the Airport and those involved in recruiting them and facilitating their journey were arrested.
“They were all taking to the office of the Aviation Security where they were documented before they were taken to NAPTIP Lagos Command for further investigation.
“This operation was supported by officials of the Aviation Security (AVSEC), Department of State Service (DSS) and the Joint Border Task Force (JBTF) which NAPTIP is a member. While investigations have continued, the Agency is still on the trail of some other facilitators and the sponsors in Russia,” he said.
Director-General of NAPTIP, Julie Okah-Donli, while reacting to the development expressed delight over its success saying that the Agency would not give human traffickers any opportunity to use the World Cup to ferry Nigerians out into a life of misery abroad.
While explaining that the Agency has been vindicated on the alarm it raised she called on all law enforcement Agencies working in all the nations’ International Airports and other entry points as well Airline officials to be on red alert to pick out criminals and potential victims in order to save the Nigerian youths from exploitation.
She also urged the Law enforcement Agencies to collaborate with the Agency in making the 2018 World cup free of trafficking of Nigerians. She, however, reminded them of the directive of the Federal Government through the Federal Ministry of Sports that all group delegates to the World Cup must get a Clearance Certificate from NAPTIP before they can be allowed to travel.
