The Nigerian Navy has handed over two rescued human trafficking victims to the National Agency for the Prohibition of Trafficking in Persons (NAPTIP), reaffirming its commitment to combating human trafficking and other transnational organized crimes.
According to a press statement signed by Navy Captain Abiodun Folorunsho, Director of Naval Information, the handover was conducted by the Forward Operating Base, FOB BADAGRY, on 19 July 2026 at NAPTIP’s Lagos Zonal Command in Ikeja.
The victims were rescued on 17 July 2026 during a targeted anti-human trafficking operation by naval personnel.
In line with the Harmonized Standard Operating Procedures (HSOP) for handling victims of trafficking, the rescued individuals were first taken to the Western Naval Command Maritime Crime Investigation Desk.
There, they underwent comprehensive documentation, biometric capture, and other necessary administrative procedures before being formally transferred to NAPTIP for rehabilitation, protection, and further investigation.
Photos released by Nigerian Navy News show naval personnel alongside the two victims and NAPTIP officials during the handover. The faces of the victims were blurred to protect their identities.
The Navy said the successful rescue and seamless handover underscore its “unwavering commitment to safeguarding Nigeria’s maritime and territorial corridors from transnational organized crime while ensuring the protection and dignity of vulnerable persons.”
It added that the operation reflects the Service’s continued collaboration with relevant government agencies in dismantling human trafficking networks and strengthening Nigeria’s national security architecture.
“The Nigerian Navy remains resolute in sustaining intelligence-driven operations and inter-agency cooperation aimed at preventing human trafficking, disrupting criminal syndicates, and promoting a safe and secure maritime environment in support of national security objectives,” the statement read.