The National Agency for the Prohibition of Trafficking in Persons (NAPTIP), has arrested Mr. Festus Osakpolor Osayamwonbor 40 and his wife, Mrs Kate Osayamwonbor 42 for allegedly involved in human trafficking.
The agency also rescued three victims,two males and a female from the suspects.
The couple were arrested during a raid at their abode at Upper Mission area of Benin alongside their victims, while taking them to the motor park for the journey.
A statement signed by the Commander NAPTIP Benin Zonal Office,Nduka Nwanwenne, said the operation was carried out by the Agency in conjunction with the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA), Nigerian Security and Civil Defense Corps (NSCDC), among others. He said the female suspect is about five months pregnant while the male suspect was deported from Malta few years ago, adding that they have both lived in Libya for 10 years until 2016.
Nwanwenne said “intelligence report indicates that trafficked victims were usually recruited to Libya for onward journey Spain, Italy and Germany among others through the Mediterranean Sea,” he said.
Reacting, NAPTIP Director General, Ms Julie Okah- Donli, said the agency has been repositioned to nip cases of human trafficking in the bud and punish offenders accordingly.
