National Agency for The Prohibition of Trafficking in Persons, has arrested three suspected traffickers and rescued 19 women in Abuja.

According to the agency’s Head of Press and Public Relations, Josiah Emerole, the rescue operation was a result of intelligence gathered about an impending trip, saying three suspected human traffickers; Hamisu Ibrahim, Sanusi Usman and Sabiu Sule, were arrested during the sting operation.

According to Emerole, 19 women, including eight minors who were being processed for an onward trip to Saudi Arabia for suspected domestic servitude, were rescued, saying all the rescued persons were from Kano State.

He said the arrested suspects who were facilitating the trip were officials of Kabo Travel and Tours Ltd, based in Kano, and another Kano based company known as Halal Travel and Tours.

Emerole said the victims were rescued from the Vfs TasHeel International’s office, Central Business Area, Abuja, where their agents had taken them to; for data capturing before their onward journey to Saudi Arabia.

He said other suspects working with Halal Travel and Tours Ltd, who were also part of the facilitators of the trip, were still at large as investigation into the case was ongoing.

“The arrests and rescue came at the heels of increased reports of exploitation being meted out on Nigerians who had gone to seek employment as domestic employees in Saudi Arabia and other countries.

“And the Director-general of NAPTIP, Ms Julie Okah-Donli, had reiterated her resolve to prevent young Nigerians seeking employment outside the shores of Nigeria from being exploited and promised that the suspects, if found culpable, will be duly prosecuted,” he said.