Police save Nigerian woman trafficked to Côte d’Ivoire

A 26-year-old woman has been arrested in Delta State. She is accused of trafficking two young Nigerian women to Côte d’Ivoire. She pretended to offer them vocational training but forced them into prostitution instead.

Bright Edafe, the police spokesperson in the state, shared this news in a statement on Sunday. One of the victims, who is 25 years old, has been rescued and reunited with her family. Efforts are ongoing to rescue the second victim and break down the trafficking network.

The suspect is named Ese Isiorho. Superintendent Edafe explained that the arrest happened after they received a petition. The petition alleged that Ms Isiorho tricked the 25-year-old victim with the promise of learning hairdressing in Côte d’Ivoire.

Investigators discovered that once the woman arrived in Côte d’Ivoire, she was forced into prostitution. Police operatives from the Effurun area command arrested the suspect after looking into the petition.

During questioning, the suspect reportedly admitted to trafficking the rescued victim and another woman in her 20s to Côte d’Ivoire. The victims were given to a woman called Madam Purity “for the purpose of prostitution,” according to the police.

The command said ongoing investigations and teamwork led to the successful rescue and return of the 25-year-old victim to Nigeria. The victim is now with her family and getting medical care, as stated by the police.

The police mentioned they are still working to bring back the second victim, who is thought to still be in Côte d’Ivoire. They also aim to catch other members of the trafficking group.

Yemi Oyeniyi, the Commissioner of Police in Delta State, praised the officers involved in the operation. He emphasized the police's commitment to fighting trafficking and organized crime.

He advised residents to “remain vigilant and report any suspicious recruitment schemes or trafficking-related activities to the Police.”

This arrest comes as Nigerian law enforcement steps up efforts against human trafficking. This crime often tricks young people with false promises of jobs, education, or migration opportunities.

In May, the Nigeria Police Force broke up a trafficking group operating in Abuja and Nasarawa State. They rescued 30 Malian nationals and arrested 13 suspects who were allegedly luring vulnerable people with fake job and migration offers.

Anti-trafficking advocates warn that traffickers are increasingly targeting families directly. They use fake job offers, scholarships, and online recruitment schemes. This highlights the need for more public awareness and vigilance.