By Ebi Kesiena
The Zone 2 Police Command in Lagos has apprehended a trafficking syndicate accused of luring young Nigerian girls to Mauritania for prostitution and sexual exploitation.
The Zonal Public Relations Officer (ZPRO), CSP Umma Ayuba, confirmed the arrest in a statement on Tuesday, revealing that operatives of the Zonal Intelligence Response Squad (ZIRS), led by SP Francis Kpoughul, raided the syndicate’s base in the Meiran area of Lagos on 22 March, resulting in the detention of two suspects.
According to Ayuba, the first suspect confessed to working for a woman in Mauritania, who paid her ₦50,000 for each girl recruited. Shockingly, she admitted to sending her 19-year-old daughter and receiving over ₦500,000 from her Mauritanian contact.
The second suspect, initially contracted to recruit girls as domestic staff, later realised they were being trafficked for sex work. She withdrew from the operation after her first recruit was rejected due to age and body size.
Ayuba stated that investigations are ongoing and that the suspects will be prosecuted upon completion.
Meanwhile, a 24-year-old Nigerian woman has recounted her traumatic experience of being trafficked to Ethiopia under the false pretence of a job opportunity arranged by a family friend in Abuja. She shared her story on the popular reality radio programme Brekete Family, where she is now seeking justice against those responsible for her ordeal.
According to her testimony, the victim was deceived by a family friend who promised her a lucrative job in Ethiopia. Unaware of the true nature of the arrangement, she embarked on a gruelling 10-day journey, only to discover that she had been sold into exploitation by her recruiters.
The young woman revealed that upon arrival in Ethiopia, she was forced into sex work for three months to survive. She described the harrowing conditions she endured and the trauma of being betrayed by someone she trusted. After a desperate and dangerous escape, she managed to return to Nigeria and has now filed a formal complaint, demanding the arrest and prosecution of the woman who sold her.
Heritage Times HT notes that authorities must ensure traffickers face justice, emphasising the need for stricter measures to combat human trafficking and protect vulnerable individuals from falling victim to such criminal networks.
