The combined operatives of the National Agency for the Prohibition of Trafficking in Persons, NAPTIP, and the Department of State Services, DSS, Imo State Command, have rescued a middle-aged Burundian woman and her three children suspected to be victims of trafficking, from a village in Imo State where they were being exploited by their trafficker.
The victims, Ms Siniremera Bizimana and her three children namely Murwaneza ZerthaMaecy, Akimana Bethel and Umwiza Collins, were set free after an early morning sting operation carried out on their house located in Umunoha village in Mbaitol Local Government Area of Imo State.
In a statement, the victims were rescued based on a complaint from the United Nations High Commission for Refugees lodged at the Headquarters of NAPTIP and further directive from the Director-General of the Agency, Dr Fatima Waziri – Azi.
It said the victims who have refugee status in Kenya, were trafficked to Lagos, Nigeria by yet to be identified human traffickers in September last year and thereafter moved to Umunoha, Imo State where they were forced into menial labour of all sorts.
Their travelling document and other valuable personal belongings were also confiscated by the unknown trafficker in the process.
According to the Commander, Imo State Command of NAPTIP, Mr Earnest Ogbu, the account from the victims indicated that they may have been deceived by the trafficker into coming to Nigeria and a remote village in Imo State without any resistance.
Speaking on the development, the Director-General of NAPTIP, Dr Fatima Waziri – Azi, thanked all stakeholders and partners who provided information and assisted in ensuring a successful operation that led to the rescue of the victims.
The NAPTIP boss specifically appreciates the effort and collaboration of the Imo State Command of the Department of State Services for providing the needed operational support.
Dr Waziri – Azi, gave an assurance that those behind the ordeal of the victims prosecuted be identified and prosecuted.
Bose Ijelehai
pub-5160901092443552
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