The National Agency for the Prohibition of Trafficking in Persons (NAPTIP), in a joint operation with the International Police, (INTERPOL), of India and a Delhi anti-human trafficking organisation, Vihaan-WMS, has arrested an India based Nigerian, Joy Okah, who is notorious for human trafficking and rescued three of her victims.
Announcing the arrest in Abuja, Director-General, NAPTIP, Dr. Fatima Waziri-Azi, said Okah was nabbed at New Krishina Park near Well Pharmacy Vikaspuri, New Delhi-India, after a tip off and a Save Our Ship (SOS), distress mail from one of her victims, who was deceived, trafficked to India, held captive and forced into prostitution.
She said Okah’s arrest is part of the agency’s deliberate operations targeting big time traffickers outside Nigeria in line with her target to ensure that high profile human traffickers across the world are identified, arrested and prosecuted and the proceeds of their ill-gotten wealth confiscated and forfeited as restitution to victims of trafficking.
The DG explained: “To realise this mission, the agency has embarked on a strategic advocacy to expand its pool and enhance operational relationship with critical partners within and outside Nigeria.
“Foremost among partners that have demonstrated unconditional commitment to work with the Agency is the International Police Organisation (INTERPOL) of which the Indian police is a member.
“I have directed that all persons linked with the recruitment, harbouring, trafficking and sexual exploitation of the three victims who are based in Nigeria, be identified, arrested and prosecuted,” she added.
Explaining how the successful operation leading to the arrest was carried out, Head of the International and Intelligence Cooperation Unit of NAPTIP, Mrs. Angela Agbayekhai, said the rescue of three Nigerian victims of forced prostitution in New Delhi, India was coordinated by a joint team with support from the Ministry of foreign affairs.
She stated that “on December 12, 2021, NAPTIP received an SOS via email from a Nigerian Minor-17 years old, (names withheld), who was deceitfully trafficked from Nigeria for forced prostitution in India.
She requested the intervention of the NAPTIP for her rescue and that of other Nigerian victims held captive and forced into sex trade by one Joy Shandy Okah, a Nigerian, based in India. NAPTIP networked with the Indian based NGO, Vihaan-WMS through intelligence sharing, which resulted in the rescue of the three victims and arrest of their trafficker at New Krishina Park near Well Pharmacy Vikaspuri, New Delhi-India. The victims were recruited from Edo, Delta and Rivers states and trafficked to India for sexual exploitation by Okah and her accomplices.
