The successful rescue and seamless handover underscore the Navy’s unwavering commitment to safeguarding Nigeria’s maritime and territorial corridors from
By Moses Okorie
The Nigerian Navy has handed over two victims rescued from suspected human traffickers to the National Agency for the Prohibition of Trafficking in Persons (NAPTIP) for rehabilitation and further investigation.
The Director of Naval Information, Capt. Abiodun Folorunsho, disclosed this in a statement issued on Wednesday in Abuja.
According to him, the victims were formally transferred to NAPTIP’s Lagos Zonal Command in Ikeja on July 19 by personnel of the Forward Operating Base (FOB) Badagry, following their rescue during a targeted anti-human trafficking operation carried out on July 17.
Folorunsho explained that, in compliance with the Harmonised Standard Operating Procedures (HSOP) for handling victims of human trafficking, the rescued individuals were initially taken to the Western Naval Command Maritime Crime Investigation Desk.
He said the victims underwent comprehensive documentation, biometric data capture, and other required administrative procedures before being handed over to NAPTIP to receive rehabilitation, protection, and support for ongoing investigations.
He noted that the successful rescue operation and subsequent transfer demonstrate the Nigerian Navy’s commitment to combating human trafficking and other forms of transnational organised crime within the country’s maritime domain.
“The successful rescue and seamless handover underscore the Navy’s unwavering commitment to safeguarding Nigeria’s maritime and territorial corridors from transnational organised crime while ensuring the protection and dignity of vulnerable persons,” he said.
Folorunsho added that the operation also highlights the Navy’s strong collaboration with relevant government agencies in dismantling human trafficking networks and strengthening Nigeria’s national security framework.
He reaffirmed the Navy’s resolve to sustain intelligence-driven operations and inter-agency cooperation aimed at preventing human trafficking, disrupting criminal syndicates, and maintaining a safe and secure maritime environment in support of national security objectives.