By Ayo Kehinde
The Lagos State Police Command has cracked a human trafficking ring allegedly targeting young women from Kaduna State for prostitution, following the arrest of a suspect accused of attempting to traffic three girls to Côte d’Ivoire under the guise of securing legitimate employment.
The suspect was apprehended after she allegedly attempted to traffic three girls, aged between 18 and 20, to Côte d’Ivoire under the pretext of securing legitimate employment in Lagos.
According to police sources, the victims were lured from Kaduna State with promises of jobs in a restaurant in Lagos, but were instead allegedly informed upon arrival in the Ajegunle area on May 23 that they would be transported to Côte d’Ivoire for prostitution.
One of the victims reportedly resisted the arrangement after discovering the true intent behind the travel plan and subsequently alerted the authorities.
A police source said the victims were not informed of any plan to take them outside the country before leaving Kaduna.
“She immediately told the suspect that prostitution was not what they had been told they were coming to Lagos for”, the source said.
The source further disclosed that the suspect allegedly took the girls to a motor park with the intention of facilitating their movement out of Nigeria before the matter was reported to the police.
Following the complaint, the Commissioner of Police in Lagos State,
Fatai Tijani ordered the transfer of the case from the Tolu Division, Ajegunle, to the State Criminal Investigation Department (SCID), Yaba, for detailed investigation.
The case is currently being handled by the Anti-Human Trafficking and Gender Unit of the SCID under the supervision of the Deputy Commissioner of Police in charge of the department, Mr Dayo Akinbisehin.
The investigation, which involves allegations of conspiracy, deception, and human trafficking, is being coordinated by the Lagos State Police Command under the authority of the Nigeria Police Force.
Police authorities said efforts are ongoing to rescue other victims believed to be connected to the trafficking network and to apprehend additional suspects allegedly involved in the operation.
The source added that investigations have been concluded and the suspect will be charged to court upon completion of administrative processes.
