…Rescue 20-Year-Old Victim
The Enugu State Police Command has uncovered a suspected transnational human trafficking scheme linked to prostitution, arresting a 50-year-old woman and rescuing a 20-year-old female victim.
The suspect, identified as Ibekwe Nkiru, was arrested on January 16, 2026, by operatives of the Igbo-Eze South Police Division following actionable intelligence.
The operation also led to the rescue of the victim, whose identity has been withheld for security reasons.
According to the Police, preliminary investigations revealed that the victim, a native of Abia State, was allegedly lured into the trafficking scheme after being deceived to resign from her job in Aba with the promise of a more lucrative employment opportunity in Senegal. The offer, however, reportedly turned out to be a plan to engage her in prostitution.
Police sources disclosed that on the same day, at about 7:10 p.m., the suspect allegedly took the victim to a shrine in Alor-Agu Community, Igbo-Eze South Local Government Area of Enugu State, where she was made to swear an oath of allegiance.
This, investigators believe, was done on the instruction of other members of the trafficking syndicate who are currently at large, ahead of the planned movement of the victim to Senegal.
Acting swiftly on the information received at about 8:00 p.m., the Divisional Police Officer led a team of operatives to the location, resulting in the arrest of the suspect and the rescue of the victim.
The rescued victim has since been debriefed by the Police and reunited with her family, while investigations continue to dismantle the suspected trafficking network and apprehend other individuals involved in the crime.
The Commissioner of Police in Enugu State, CP Mamman Bitrus Giwa, psc, has directed the State Criminal Investigation Department to ensure that all persons connected to the crime are arrested and prosecuted.
He reaffirmed the Command’s commitment to the fight against human trafficking, prostitution, and related offences, and called on members of the public to continue to provide timely and credible information to aid police operations.
