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Summary: NAPTIP rescued 17 survivors of human trafficking and arrested several suspects after raiding a hotel in Onitsha, Anambra State. The operation followed intelligence reports of underage girls being trafficked for prostitution and other abuses.
The National Agency for the Prohibition of Trafficking in Persons (NAPTIP) has rescued 17 survivors of human trafficking and arrested four suspected traffickers following a raid on a popular hotel in Onitsha, Anambra State.
The operation, carried out on February 2, 2026, with the support of the military, took place at a highly rated hotel located around the 33 area of the city. NAPTIP said two additional suspects reportedly involved in the buying and selling of babies across states in the South-East were also apprehended during the operation.
In a statement signed by the agency’s Head of Press and Public Relations, Vincent Adekoye, NAPTIP said the raid was part of its nationwide crackdown on human trafficking. According to the agency, the operation was triggered by credible intelligence from a non-state actor in Anambra State, which raised concerns about the presence of underage girls at the facility and their deteriorating health conditions.
It was also revealed that residents of the area had long expressed concerns over suspicious activities at the hotel, particularly the frequent influx of men raping underage girls. During the raid, some victims were reportedly found with “customers“, while others were seen waiting for clients.
NAPTIP disclosed that the victims were recruited from Benue, Imo, Ebonyi and Akwa Ibom states and trafficked to Onitsha for prostitution. Under interrogation, the victims said they were required to remit between N20,000 and N25,000 daily to their handler, popularly referred to as a “madam.”
One of the rescued victims recounted how she was lured to Onitsha by her boyfriend under the guise of a job opportunity, only to be forced into prostitution upon arrival. Another victim, whose health had been compromised, noted that her handler confiscated antiretroviral drugs given to her after an HIV test and subjected her to physical abuse for attempting to seek medical help.
NAPTIP confirmed that four of the rescued victims tested positive for HIV and are currently receiving counselling and medical support from NAPTIP caregivers in collaboration with volunteers from the Anambra State AIDS Control Agency (ANSACA).
Reacting to the development, NAPTIP Director-General, Binta Adamu Bello, expressed deep concern over the victims’ ordeal, particularly their health status. She described the actions of the traffickers as criminal and confirmed that a manhunt has been launched for the principal suspect believed to be coordinating the operation.
She also disclosed that the owner of the hotel has been invited for interrogation to determine appropriate sanctions, while reiterating the agency’s commitment to intensifying efforts to combat human trafficking across the country.
