Men of the Ogun State police command have arrested a couple identified as Godday and Ebere Samuel for alleged human trafficking after they were accused of trafficking a 16-year-old girl to Burkina Faso before the trip was foiled.
The Police Public Relations Officer in the state, SP Abimbola Oyeyemi disclosed this in a statement on Monday, when he stated that they were arrested following a report lodged at Atan-Ota divisional headquarters by one Adeniji Okikiolu.
According to Oyeyemi, Okikiolu reported that his 16-year-old daughter, Maria Adeniji suddenly disappeared from home on the 16th of October 2022, and while a search party was organised to look for her, he was informed by someone that the missing girl was seen with Ebere Samuel on the previous day.
He said, “upon the information, Ebere Samuel was invited to the station, but she vehemently denied ever seeing the missing girl on or before that day.
“Not satisfied with her plea of alibi, she was subsequently detained at the station.
“But surprisingly, when her husband was contacted, the husband confessed to having taken the missing Maria to somewhere in Lagos for onward transportation to Burkina Faso where she will be engaged as a maid to one of their associates.
“Preliminary investigation revealed that the couple has been into the business of human trafficking for some time now and that their accomplices are in Burkina Faso.”
The PPRO however said the Commissioner of Police, Lanre Bankole has ordered the immediate transfer of the suspects to the Anti-Human Trafficking and Child Labour unit of the State Criminal Investigation Departments for discreet investigation and diligent prosecution.
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