NAPTIP arrests Christy Gold, a notorious human trafficker, ending a five-year manhunt. Discover how inter-agency collaboration made this breakthrough possible in the fight against human trafficking.
Uadiale Christiana Jacob, widely known as “Christy Gold,” a convicted socialite and the mastermind behind a notorious human trafficking network spanning the Middle East and headquartered in Dubai, UAE, has been apprehended. The National Agency for the Prohibition of Trafficking in Persons (NAPTIP) confirmed her arrest after a five-year pursuit.
Christy Gold was intercepted by the Nigeria Immigration Service (NIS) at the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport, Abuja, on December 31, 2024, upon her arrival from Dubai for the New Year celebrations. This significant breakthrough was achieved through inter-agency collaboration, a crucial strategy in combating human trafficking in Nigeria and globally.
A Milestone in Collaboration
The Director General of NAPTIP, Binta Bello, commended the NIS officers for their critical role in capturing the fugitive. She highlighted the importance of cooperation between agencies in the fight against human trafficking.
“We extend our gratitude to the NIS for this successful arrest. This accomplishment underscores the outcome of our recent advocacy visit to the Comptroller General of NIS, resulting in enhanced synergy and improved collaboration,” Bello stated.
She further assured that Jacob would face sentencing to send a strong message to other members of the criminal syndicate still at large. “They can hide for a while, but not forever. With activated global intelligence networks and partnerships, we are closing in on all elements involved in trafficking and exploitation.”
The Criminal Network
Jacob, a senior figure in a human trafficking syndicate, orchestrated the recruitment, trafficking, and sexual exploitation of underage Nigerian girls in Dubai. Other members of the network, including Michael Nduka, Osas Wiseman, Vivian, and a “Prophet John” based in Lagos, remain at large.
The syndicate’s activities first came under scrutiny on March 18, 2020, when the Nigeria Immigration Service at Ikeja Airport shared intelligence with NAPTIP’s Joint Border Task Force. This led to Jacob’s arrest in Benin City on October 13, 2020, for trafficking minors to Dubai for forced prostitution.
Charged at the Federal High Court in Asaba on November 25, 2020, Jacob was granted bail but later absconded to Dubai, violating her bail terms. A bench warrant for her arrest was issued on November 3, 2021.
Persistent Pursuit of Justice
Despite Jacob’s evasion, NAPTIP relentlessly pursued her through collaborations with the Ministry of Justice, INTERPOL Nigeria, National Intelligence Agency (NIA), and UAE Police. This persistence led to her conviction in absentia on March 21, 2024, by Justice F.A. Olubanjo at the Federal High Court, Asaba. Her sentencing was deferred pending her re-arrest.
Her arrest on December 31, 2024, marks a turning point in the fight against human trafficking. Acting on a 2023 watchlist request from NAPTIP, the NIS officers ensured Jacob’s return to face justice.
Future Efforts Against Trafficking
NAPTIP remains committed to dismantling trafficking networks and ensuring justice for victims. Bello reiterated that 2025 will see intensified efforts to apprehend traffickers and protect Nigerians from exploitation.
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