The National Agency for the Prohibition of Trafficking in Persons (NAPTIP) has successfully dismantled a human trafficking syndicate operating across state lines and rescued three young women who were being forced into prostitution in Katsina State.

The agency’s Katsina Command carried out a raid on a popular hotel in the state capital, leading to the arrest of three suspected traffickers — the hotel’s manager and two staff members. During the operation, three victims aged between 21 and 26, originally from Benue and Rivers states, were rescued from their exploiters.

NAPTIP’s Press Officer, Vincent Adekoye, confirmed the development in a statement on Wednesday. According to him, the arrested suspects are believed to be part of a network that recruits and traffics young women from different parts of Nigeria to the northern region for sexual exploitation.

This operation followed a directive by NAPTIP’s Director General, Binta Adamu Bello, who had recently instructed agency operatives across the country to ramp up intelligence gathering and tighten surveillance around hotspots such as hotels, bars, and motor parks — common hubs for trafficking activities.

Speaking on the success of the operation, Adekoye highlighted the agency’s renewed commitment to breaking trafficking networks and protecting vulnerable Nigerians.

“The Director General had earlier asked that operatives pay close attention to activities around hotels, drinking joints, and motor parks in state capitals to disrupt criminal networks,” he said.

With this latest breakthrough, NAPTIP has sent a strong message to traffickers that their illicit operations will not go unchecked, while also assuring Nigerians of the agency’s continued efforts to safeguard lives and restore dignity to victims.