The Lagos State police have arrested two suspected human traffickers and rescued ten girls who were about to be trafficked to various West African countries.
The victims were reportedly staying in a hotel in preparation for their transfer when the police intervened. The girls claimed they had been lured by promises of lucrative employment opportunities in neighboring African countries.
The spokesperson for the Lagos State police command, Benjamin Hundeyin, announced on Thursday that the suspects were arrested by the Crack Squad of the state police command, led by CSP Uba Adams. He identified the suspects as 42-year-old Chike Aniebonam and 55-year-old Donald Ojikote.
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According to reports, the girls were abducted from several states, including Imo, Ebonyi, Akwa Ibom, Anambra, Abia, and Ogun, by members of the syndicate.
Hundeyin stated, “The Crack Squad of the Lagos State Police Command, located in Gbagada, received intelligence about a syndicate specializing in abducting teenage girls and selling them to partners in neighboring countries. We acted on this information and, within a week, gathered enough evidence to arrest the two suspects in the Mazamaza area of Lagos.”
He added, “The victims are between the ages of 16 and 23. We have already established contact with their parents and relatives, and we will reunite them shortly.”
Hundeyin also mentioned that the police are collaborating with the Interpol to apprehend the international collaborators and other members of the syndicate.
One of the victims, identified as Godslove, said she and her younger sister, Ifonobong, were introduced to the syndicate by a former neighbor. She explained, “Our former neighbor, who still communicates with us, told us about a job opportunity through her sister who runs a big restaurant outside Nigeria. That’s how we got involved with these people and were waiting to be taken there when we were rescued.”
Another set of sisters, 19-year-old Success and 17-year-old Chioma, said they were introduced to the gang by their aunt after their parents passed away.
One of the suspects, Chike Aniebonam, claimed he was only responsible for transporting the abducted girls to different West African countries. He stated, “I have only taken girls to Togo, Ghana, Ivory Coast, and Benin Republic. I am just a driver. I received a call from one of my customers to bring a girl to Benin Republic. This wasn’t the first time I have done this. I have also helped carry goods for her. According to the waybills she sent, she is involved in the sale and supply of foodstuffs and also runs a restaurant.”
Hundeyin concluded by stating that the police would work with the necessary government agencies to ensure that the suspects are properly prosecuted according to the law.
