The Enugu State Police Command has uncovered a suspected international human trafficking syndicate involving prostitution, arresting a 50-year-old woman, Ibekwe Nkiru, and rescuing a 20-year-old victim.
The arrest and rescue were carried out on January 16, 2026, by operatives of the Igbo-Eze South Police Division following what the police described as swift action on credible intelligence.
This was disclosed in a statement issued on Wednesday night by the Police Public Relations Officer, SP Daniel Ndukwe.
According to the police, preliminary investigations revealed that the victim, a native of Abia State, was allegedly lured into resigning from her job in Aba after being promised a more lucrative employment opportunity in Senegal.
“The promised job later turned out to be prostitution-related,” the statement said.
The police further disclosed that at about 7:10 p.m. on the same day, the suspect, who operates from the Amorji-Nike area of Enugu, allegedly took the victim to a shrine located in the Alor-Agu Community of Igbo-Eze South Local Government Area.
According to the statement, the visit to the shrine was allegedly carried out on the instructions of other members of the trafficking syndicate, who are currently at large, for the victim to swear an oath of allegiance ahead of the 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,” the police said.
The command said the rescued victim has since been debriefed and reunited with her family, while investigations are ongoing to dismantle the trafficking network and apprehend other suspects involved.
The Commissioner of Police, Enugu State Command, CP Mamman Bitrus Giwa, has directed the State Criminal Investigation Department to take over the case to ensure that all persons connected with the crime are identified, arrested and prosecuted.
The police commissioner reiterated the command’s commitment to combating human trafficking, prostitution and other related crimes, while urging members of the public to continue providing timely and credible information to support crime prevention across the state.
The command also assured residents of its resolve to protect vulnerable persons and bring perpetrators of human trafficking and similar offences to justice.
