The Enugu State Police Command says it has dismantled a transnational human trafficking syndicate involved in prostitution, resulting in the detention of a 50-year-old suspect.
Daniel Ndukwe, the command’s spokesman, disclosed the arrest in a statement on Thursday in Enugu.
He said operatives attached to the Igbo-Eze South Police Division effected the arrest and rescued a 20-year-old female victim on January 16, acting swiftly on credible intelligence.
According to him, preliminary investigations indicate that the victim, a native of Abia, was allegedly deceived into resigning from her job in Aba with the promise of a more lucrative employment opportunity in Senegal.
The spokesman said that the more lucrative employment opportunity in Senegal later turned out to be prostitution-related.
“On the same date, at about 7p.m., the suspect, who operates from Amorji-Nike, Enugu, allegedly took the victim to a shrine in Alor-Agu Community, Igbo-Eze South LGA, on the instruction of other syndicate members still at large,” Ndukwe said.
“They went to the shrine to swear an oath of allegiance ahead of the planned trafficking to Senegal.”
Ndukwe said the Divisional Police Officer, acting on information received at about 8p.m., led a team to the location where the suspect was detained and the victim rescued.
He added that the victim has since been debriefed and reunited with her family, while investigations continue to identify and apprehend other syndicate members.
The spokesman said the state commissioner of police, Mamman Giwa, had directed the State Criminal Investigation Department to ensure all individuals connected to the crime are brought to justice.
Ndukwe reiterated the command’s commitment to combating human trafficking, prostitution, and other related crimes.
He also urged the public to continue providing timely and credible information to assist the police in tackling such criminal networks.