The Enugu State Police Command has uncovered a suspected transnational human trafficking scheme linked to prostitution, leading to the arrest of a 50-year-old woman, identified as Ibekwe Nkiru, and the rescue of a 20-year-old female victim.
According to the Police Public Relations Officer of the Command, SP Daniel Ndukwe, the arrest and rescue were carried out on January 16, 2026, by operatives attached to the Igbo-Eze South Police Division, following swift action on credible intelligence.
SP Ndukwe explained that 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 on the same day, at about 7:10 p.m., the suspect allegedly took the victim to a shrine located in Alor-Agu Community, Igbo-Eze South Local Government Area, on the instruction of other members of the trafficking syndicate who are currently at large. The victim was reportedly made to swear an oath of allegiance ahead of her planned trafficking to Senegal.
“Upon receiving the information at about 8:00 p.m., the Divisional Police Officer promptly led a team of operatives to the location, where the suspect was arrested and the victim rescued,” SP Ndukwe said.
The police spokesperson noted that the victim has since been debriefed and reunited with her family, while investigations are ongoing to dismantle the trafficking network and apprehend other suspects connected to the crime.
Meanwhile, the Commissioner of Police, CP Mamman Bitrus Giwa, psc, has directed the State Criminal Investigation Department (CID) to take over the case and ensure that all individuals involved are arrested and brought to justice.
CP Giwa reiterated the Command’s unwavering commitment to combating human trafficking, prostitution, and other related crimes, and urged members of the public to continue to provide timely and credible information to the Police to aid their operations.
