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), reaffirming its commitment to combating human trafficking and other forms of transnational organised crime.
The Director of Information, Nigerian Navy, Commodore Abiodun Folorunsho, disclosed the development in a statement issued on Wednesday.
According to him, the victims were rescued by personnel of the Forward Operating Base (FOB) Badagry during a targeted anti-human trafficking operation carried out on July 17, 2026. They were subsequently handed over to NAPTIP’s Lagos Zonal Command in Ikeja on July 19.
Folorunsho explained that the handover was conducted in accordance with the Harmonised Standard Operating Procedures (HSOP) for the handling of trafficking victims.
He stated that the victims were initially taken to the Western Naval Command Maritime Crime Investigation Desk, where they underwent documentation, biometric registration, and other necessary administrative procedures before being transferred to NAPTIP for rehabilitation, protection, and further investigation.
According to him, the successful rescue and transfer underscore the Nigerian Navy’s commitment to safeguarding the country’s maritime and territorial corridors against transnational organised crime while protecting the rights and dignity of vulnerable persons.
He added that the operation also reflects the Navy’s continued collaboration with relevant government agencies in dismantling human trafficking networks and strengthening Nigeria’s national security framework.
Folorunsho further stated that the Nigerian Navy would continue to intensify intelligence-led operations and strengthen inter-agency cooperation to prevent human trafficking, dismantle criminal syndicates, and promote a safe and secure maritime environment in support of the country’s national security objectives.
