Nigerian Navy Rescues Two Human Trafficking Victims

The Nigerian Navy has reaffirmed its commitment to combating human trafficking and other transnational organized crimes. On July 19, 2026, the Navy handed over two rescued human trafficking victims to the National Agency for the Prohibition of Trafficking in Persons (NAPTIP) at its Lagos Zonal Command in Ikeja.

The victims were rescued during a targeted anti-human trafficking operation conducted by personnel of the Forward Operating Base (FOB) Badagry on July 17, 2026. Navy Captain Abiodun Folorunsho, the Director of Naval Information, stated that the victims were initially taken to the Western Naval Command Maritime Crime Investigation Desk for proper documentation in accordance with the Harmonised Standard Operating Procedures (HSOP) for handling trafficking victims.

The Navy described the successful rescue and handover as a demonstration of its commitment to protecting Nigeria’s maritime corridors from organized crime while ensuring the safety and dignity of vulnerable persons. Folorunsho reiterated the Navy's dedication to intelligence-driven operations and inter-agency cooperation to prevent human trafficking and disrupt criminal networks exploiting Nigeria’s waterways.