KAHTHRAF, NAPTIP nab human trafficking kingpin, Muritala Sanni

LAGOS, Nigeria – One of Nigeria’s foremost human trafficking kingpins, Muritala Sanni is now cooling off in the cell of the National Agency for the Prohibition of Trafficking in Persons, (NAPTIP)  in Lagos.

Alhaji Sanni’s arrest came after over eight years of consistent chase by NAPTIP, security agencies and a non-governmental organization, Kick Against Human Trafficking and Human Rights Abuse Foundation, KAHTHRAF.

Sanni was cracked down at a hotel in Amukoko area of Lagos, by some policemen from Amukoko divisional police station, after KAHTHRAF used one of his previous victims, as a bait to trick him to the hotel.

The kingpin trafficker, who had his trafficking network and businesses across Libya and East Africa, is currently in the custody of NAPTIP for further interrogation and investigation.

Speaking after the arrest, KAHTHRAF’s President, Barrister Ojay Akinwale, says Alhaji Sanni’s arrest is a major success and breakthrough for KAHTHRAF in its fight against human trafficking in the country.

“It’s been a long battle and journey, and our people have never given up hunting for him. We have been looking for him since 2016, although our fight against human trafficking in Nigeria started in 2004. Before now, we alongside NAPTIP, have been able to arrest and get conviction for some members of his gang, but Sanni and his wife, who died sometime recently in Libya, have been escaping arrest.

“We resumed our efforts again about one month ago, when we were not making any headway, we decided to use one of his previous victims, as bait.

“We do not know what has happened to him; he told the lady that he has lost all his money. So, made her play along. We made her to tell him that she will pay the hotel bills and other expenses. He was initially skeptical, but we continued to play along not rushing things, until they fixed an appointment for Wednesday, September 23, 2020, at a hotel in Amukoko.

“We were initially working with NAPTIP, but when we noticed that they were foot dragging in moving in to arrest him, KAHTHRAF decided to take it personally. So, we cracked him down while they were at the hotel room with the assistance of the divisional police officer of Amukoko. He gave us four able officers, who stormed the hotel with us and arrested.

“He is now with NAPTIP at Ikeja, as the Agency that specializes in fighting human trafficking. But that’s not to say we are handing off the case, we will follow up the matter to a logical conclusion. We have a team of lawyers, investigators, journalists and even psychologist in KAHTHRAF, who can help us in the investigation and give us reasonable advice on how to ensure that NAPTIP charge him appropriately in order to get justice for his victims.”

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Barr Akinwale is now hoping that Alhaji Sanni’s arrest would bring about justice for all his victims.

He says the law is crystal clear on proceeds of such crimes, adding that they are usually seized by the government, sold, and then used to rehabilitate and reintegrate the victims into the society.

“Even the law allows that. The law provides that all proceeds of this crime must be auctioned and then be used to compensate the victims.

“This is a lesson for those still perpetrating such crimes that nothing last for long. Crime doesn’t pay. There’s a way the society and nature get back to you.”