The Enugu State Police Command has uncovered a suspected transnational human trafficking syndicate linked to prostitution, arresting a 50-year-old woman and rescuing a 20-year-old female victim in Igbo-Eze South Local Government Area of the state.
A statement issued on January 27, 2026, by the Police Public Relations Officer, SP Daniel Ndukwe, said the suspect, identified as Ibekwe Nkiru, was arrested on January 16, 2026, by operatives attached to the Igbo-Eze South Police Division following what the police described as swift action on credible intelligence. The victim’s identity was withheld.
According to the Ndukwe, preliminary investigations revealed that the victim, a native of Abia State, was allegedly deceived into resigning from her job in Aba with the promise of a more lucrative employment opportunity in Senegal, which later turned out to be prostitution-related.
He added that at about 7:10 p.m. on the same day, 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. The visit was reportedly to make the victim swear an oath of allegiance ahead of the planned trafficking to Senegal.
However, acting on the intelligence received at about 8:00 p.m., the Divisional Police Officer immediately led a team of operatives to the location, where the suspect was arrested and the victim rescued.
The victim has since been debriefed and reunited with her family, while investigations continue to dismantle the trafficking network and apprehend other members of the syndicate.
Reacting to the development, the Commissioner of Police in Enugu State, CP Mamman Bitrus Giwa, psc, directed the State Criminal Investigation Department (CID) to intensify efforts to ensure that all persons connected with the crime are arrested and prosecuted.
“The Enugu State Police Command remains unwavering in its commitment to combating human trafficking, prostitution and other related crimes,” the Commissioner stated.
He also urged members of the public to continue to support the police with timely and credible information to aid crime prevention and detection.
