NAPTIP nabs UAE based woman, 5 others over human trafficking

The National Agency for the Prohibition of Trafficking in Persons (NAPTIP) has arrested 6 persons for allegedly trafficking girls from Nigeria to the United Arab Emirates (UAE) to engage in forced prostitution.   One of the persons arrested is 25-year-old Rita Chinenye Ani, who is said to be based in Abu Dhabi, UAE. Others arrested […]

The National Agency for the Prohibition of Trafficking in Persons (NAPTIP) has arrested 6 persons for allegedly trafficking girls from Nigeria to the United Arab Emirates (UAE) to engage in forced prostitution.  

One of the persons arrested is 25-year-old Rita Chinenye Ani, who is said to be based in Abu Dhabi, UAE.

Others arrested are Rita’s elder sister, Ngozi Stella Nnamani Ani (aka Princess), 31, from Enugu State; Ozigi Abdulkarim, 32, from Kogi State; Princewill James, 34, from Bayelsa State; Benson Emmanuel, 32, from Rivers State and Philip Joshua, 32, from Bayelsa State.

The suspects were arrested by operatives of NAPTIP in two operations in Gwarimpa, Abuja and Ibadan, Oyo State. 

Rita, who recently returned home for her traditional marriage preparatory to moving to the United Kingdom with her fiancé, was arrested in Ibadan by the newly established NAPTIP- Rapid Response Squad (NAPTIP-RRS).

The lid of the suspects was blown recently when one of the victims returned from Abu Dhabi after 4 months of forced prostitution. The victim narrated how she was flogged or hot boiling ring inserted into her vagina any day she failed to make enough money, which is forcefully collected by Rita.

The victim (name withheld), who is 19 years old, was recruited from Gwarimpa, Abuja by her ex-boyfriend Ozigi Abdulkarim, Ngozi Stella Ani and Princewill James and transferred to Rita Ani in UAE. 

The suspects allegedly prepared her travel documents, took her to Ogbomoso, Oyo State where fetish oath was administered on her before the journey. 

Benson Emmanuel and Philip Joshua are said to be the associates of the other four and played a role in the trafficking of the victim. The suspects have reportedly made useful statements to investigators and will soon be charged to court after investigation.

Chinyere also confessed to having more girls working for her in the UAE. 

Reacting, the Director-General of NAPTIP, Julie Okah-Donli, commended the operatives for bursting the network, stressing that no human trafficker will go unpunished in Nigeria as the agency is ready to smoke them out where ever they may be hiding.