NAPTIP arrests two travel directors for trafficking Nigerians to Saudi Arabia
Two operators of a leading travel and tour agencies in Abuja have been arrested by The National Agency for the Prohibition of Trafficking in Persons (NAPTIP) in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT).
The suspects are Mr. Ibrahim Wali, Managing Director and Chief Executive of Family Travel & Tour Limited and Mr Nasiru Musa Jubril, Chairman and Chief Executive of Divine Travel & Tour limited.
The men were arrested for alleged trafficking of 96 Nigerians to Saudi Arabia under the guise of 2017 Hajj exercise.
The National Hajj Commission of Nigeria (NAHCON) said Family Travel & Tour Limited applied for and got allocation to take 450 persons to Saudi Arabia during the 2017 Hajj Exercise, but was unable to account for 96 of the people months after the Hajj was completed.
Attempts to get the company to bring the people back has not yielded any result.
In the course of the investigation, Mr. Wali alleged that it was his friend Mr. Musa Jubril that used his company to transact the business.
The two suspects are making useful statements as investigation continues.
NAPTIP, last Friday, raided a popular hotel in Abuja where suspected victims of human trafficking and labour exploitation were believed to have been kept by some operators of some travel & tour companies prior to their departure.
Thirteen suspected victims of human trafficking and labour exploitation were rescued, while two suspected traffickers were arrested in the raid. The facility was subsequently sealed up by the Agency.
The Director-General of NAPTIP, Dame Julie Okah – Donli, warned travel & tour operators in the country to desist from recruiting innocent Nigerians for sexual and labour exploitation.
