A suspected leader of an international human trafficking syndicate, Uadiale Jacob, also known as Christy Gold, has been arrested in Abuja after being on the wanted list of the National Agency for the Prohibition of Trafficking in Persons (NAPTIP) for five years.
Jacob, alleged to have masterminded the trafficking of underage Nigerian girls for sexual exploitation in Dubai, United Arab Emirates, was apprehended at Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport on December 31, 2024.
Officers of the Nigeria Immigration Service (NIS) arrested her upon her arrival from Dubai, where she reportedly traveled to celebrate the New Year, and subsequently handed her over to NAPTIP.
According to NAPTIP, Jacob is a key member of an organized trafficking network operating across the Middle East. Despite being granted bail in 2020 after her initial arrest in Benin City, Edo State, Jacob fled to Dubai, violating her bail terms. Following her disappearance, a Federal High Court in Asaba issued a bench warrant for her arrest in November 2021.
NAPTIP revealed that Jacob was convicted in absentia on March 21, 2024, by Justice F.A. Olubanjo of the Federal High Court, Asaba. However, sentencing was deferred until her re-arrest.
The agency’s Director General, Binta Bello, praised the NIS for their cooperation, stating, “This arrest underscores the importance of inter-agency collaboration. The convict will face the full weight of the law and will be brought before the court to receive her sentence.”
Bello warned other members of the trafficking ring still at large, saying, “They can only hide for a while, but they cannot escape justice forever. Our global partners and intelligence networks are actively working to bring them to book.”
NAPTIP spokesperson Vincent Adekoya noted that the agency had sought assistance from INTERPOL, the National Intelligence Agency (NIA), and UAE law enforcement to ensure Jacob’s capture.
The Director General further pledged intensified efforts to combat human trafficking in 2025, promising to “make the country a living hell for traffickers and exploiters.”
NAPTIP continues to search for Jacob’s alleged accomplices, described as field officers who facilitated the recruitment and trafficking of victims. The agency reiterated its commitment to protecting Nigerians from trafficking and related crimes.
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