2025’ll be hell for human traffickers in Nigeria – NAPTIP DG vows
…As agency nabs suspected arrowhead of Dubai-based trafficking syndicate returning to celebrate New Year
From Boniface Okoro, Umuahia
Director-General of National Agency for the Prohibition of Trafficking in Persons (NAPTIP), Binta Adamu Bello, has vowed that the agency would make Nigeria a hell for human traffickers in 2025.
Binta Adamu Bello declaration came on the heels of the arrested of a convicted runaway, high-profile human trafficker, Uadiale Christiana Jacob (a.k.a Christy Evan Osagie, a.k.a Christy Gold), suspected to be the arrowhead of an International Human Trafficking network operating across the Middle Eastern countries with an operational base in the United Arab Emirate (UAE) Dubai. She was nabbed while returning to the country to celebrate the New Year,
Uadiale Christiana Jacob (a.k.a Christy Evan Osagie, a.k.a Christy Gold), has been on the wanted list of the National Agency for the Prohibition of Trafficking in Persons (NAPTIP) for five years now was arrested December 31, 2024, according to a statement by NAPTIP’s Press Officer, Vincent Adekoya.
The Statement, made available to The Oracle Today newspapers, disclosed that Christy Gold, as she is popularly called by her gang members, was arrested by the officers of the Nigeria Immigration Service (NIS) on duty at the Nnamdi Azikwe International Airport, Abuja, on arrival from Dubai for New Year celebration and has been handed over to NAPTIP.
Her suspected other accomplices, one Michael Nduka, Osas Wiseman, Vivian, and a certain Prophet John in Lagos, along with others, alleged to be field officers who assist in the recruitment and subsequent transfer of victims to Christy Gold, are still on the run, Mr. Adekoya stated.
Revealing why and how Christy Gold has been on NAPTIP’s wanted list for the past five years, Mr. Adekoya went down memory lane:
“It would be recalled that on the 18th March 2020, the Nigeria Immigration Service (NIS), Ikeja Airport Command, shared intelligence with NAPTIP Joint Border Task Force/Benin Satellite Office (JBTF/BSO) in respect of one Uadiale Christiana Jacob aka Christy Evan Osagie aka Christy Gold of No 15 Osagie Street, Off 2nd Power Line, Egbon Estate, Benin City, Edo State.
“Uadiale Christiana Jacob popularly known as Christy Gold is a senior member of an organized human trafficking syndicate notorious for the recruitment, trafficking and sexually exploiting of underage Nigerian girls in Dubai, United Arab Emirates.
“Following the Agency’s investigation into the alleged offense to establish culpability, Christiana Uadiale Jacob was arrested by NAPTIP in Ikpoba Hill area, Benin City on the 13th of October 2020 for her involvement in the trafficking of aged Nigerian girls to Dubai, United Arab Emirates for forced prostitution.
“She was charged to the Federal High Court, Asaba, Delta State on the 25th of November 2020, where she was granted bail. While on Court bail, Christiana Uadiale Jacob violated the terms of the bail and absconded to Dubai. After failing severally to appear before the Court, a Bench Warrant was therefore issued by the sitting Judge on the 3rd of November 2021 for her arrest.
“To get Christiana Uadiale Jacob to face justice for her crimes, NAPTIP sought the assistance and collaboration of the Honourable Minister of Justice and Attorney-General of the Federation, National Central Bureau (NCB), INTERPOL Nigeria, National Intelligence Agency (NIA), Nigeria Immigration Service (NIS) and the United Arab Emirates Police for her arrest and extradition to Nigeria.
“Even while she tried to evade justice, NAPTIP did not relent and as a result of our diligent prosecution of the case, Christiana Uadiale Jacob was convicted for human trafficking in absentia by Honourable Justice F. A. Olubanjo of the Federal High Court, Asaba, Delta State, on the 21st of March 2024 with sentencing being awaited whenever she is rearrested and brought before the Honourable Court.”
According to the statement, “Luck however ran out on her on the 31st of December 2024, as Officers Nigeria Immigration Service, acting in respect of NAPTIP’s request for watchlisting dated 22nd February 2023, nabbed her on arrival to Nigeria.”
Reacting to the development, the NAPTIP Director-General lauded the efforts of the Nigerian Immigration Service for apprehending the fleeing human trafficking convict, saying that it was a commendable demonstration of inter-agency collaboration.
“I want to specially thank our sister Law Enforcement Agency, the NIS, for the arrest of the convict. Recall that a few weeks ago, I visited the Comptroller-General of NIS and the outcome of that advocacy visit is this improved synergy and very efficient collaboration. NAPTIP also appreciates the efforts of other members of the Intelligence Community who are working behind the scenes to apprehend these fellows,” she said.
According to her, “the convict that had been arrested and convicted will surely be taken to the Court to face the sentence by the Law.”
“This is a clear message to other members of this international criminal gang who are still on the run: They can only hide for a while; they can never hide forever. We have already activated all necessary security and intelligence apparatus, and our partners around the World are on the lookout for these elements. Very soon, the net will catch them.
“I am happy it was a sad end for human traffickers in the country in 2024 and we promise them a hell in 2025.
“We are more determined and will be more decisive this year to fish them out and ensure the protection of Nigerians from trafficking, exploitation, and violence against persons,” Binta Adamu Bello declared.
