The Enugu State Police Command has dismantled part of an alleged transnational human trafficking network, arresting a 50-year-old woman and rescuing a 20-year-old victim from planned sexual exploitation abroad.
The suspect, identified as Ibekwe Nkiru, was arrested on January 16, 2026, by operatives of the Igbo-Eze South Police Division following actionable intelligence, according to the police.
Confirming the development in a statement issued on Wednesday, the Police Public Relations Officer in the state, SP Daniel Ndukwe, said the operation led to the rescue of a young woman who had been lured with false promises of employment.
“Preliminary investigations revealed that the victim, a native of Abia State, was deceived into resigning from her job in Aba after being promised a lucrative job opportunity in Senegal,” Ndukwe stated.
He added that the offer later turned out to be linked to prostitution.
The police disclosed that the suspect allegedly took the victim to a shrine in Alor-Agu Community, Igbo-Eze South Local Government Area, on the same day at about 7:10 p.m., where she was made to swear an oath of allegiance ahead of her intended trafficking.
“The shrine visit was reportedly carried out on the directive of other members of the trafficking syndicate who are currently at large,” the statement noted.
According to the police spokesperson, operatives swiftly acted on the information and moved to the location around 8:00 p.m., leading to the arrest of the suspect and the rescue of the victim.
“The suspect was arrested at the scene, while the victim was safely rescued,” Ndukwe said.
The rescued woman has since been debriefed and reunited with her family, while investigations continue to track down other members of the syndicate.
The Commissioner of Police in Enugu State, CP Mamman Bitrus Giwa, has ordered the State Criminal Investigation Department to take over the case to ensure thorough investigation and prosecution of all those involved.
“He reaffirmed the Command’s commitment to combating human trafficking, prostitution and other related crimes,” the police spokesperson said.
The police also urged residents to continue providing credible information that could aid crime prevention and assured the public of their determination to protect vulnerable persons and bring offenders to justice.
