By Ijeoma Agbafo
The Nigerian Navy has handed over two rescued victims of human trafficking to the National Agency for the Prohibition of Trafficking in Persons (NAPTIP) following their rescue during an anti-trafficking operation.
The Director of Naval Information, Capt. Abiodun Folorunsho, disclosed this in a statement on Wednesday in Abuja, saying the handover was conducted by the Forward Operating Base (FOB) Badagry at NAPTIP’s Lagos Zonal Command in Ikeja on July 19.
Folorunsho said the victims were rescued during a targeted operation on July 17 and were initially taken to the Western Naval Command Maritime Crime Investigation Desk. He said they underwent documentation, biometric capture and other administrative procedures in line with the Harmonised Standard Operating Procedures for handling trafficking victims.
He said the victims were subsequently transferred to NAPTIP for rehabilitation, protection and further investigation, adding that the operation demonstrated the Navy’s commitment to protecting vulnerable persons and combating transnational organised crime.
Folorunsho reaffirmed the Navy’s commitment to intelligence-driven and inter-agency cooperation to prevent human trafficking, dismantle criminal networks and strengthen security along Nigeria’s maritime and territorial corridors.
