Operatives of the Akwa Ibom State Police Command have smashed an international human trafficking ring specialising in transporting young girls from the State to some West African countries, especially Burkina Faso.
Spokesperson of the Command, DSP Timfon John, told Journalists at the Command’s headquarters in Uyo, on Tuesday, that the operatives swooped on the suspects in a hotel around Nnung Oku area of Ibesikpo Asutan local government area of the State.
“On September 12, 2025, at approximately 10:30 pm, operatives of the Command arrested three suspects in connection with a kidnapping and human trafficking case. The operation was launched following a tip-off about a human trafficking syndicate operating in the area.”
Timfon narrated that one of the suspects, (name withheld) a native of Igbanke Village in Orionhwho local government area of Edo State, was allegedly sent by his brother-in-law, a suspected human trafficking ring leader based in Burkina Faso to transport several girls from Uyo to the neighbouring country.
The State Command’s spokesperson further explained that upon his arrival in Uyo, the girls directed the suspect to the unnamed hotel in a mini-bus driven by one of them.
“On arrival at the hotel, the girls and other accomplices reportedly locked him in a room and demanded a ransom of N4 million. Unable to pay the full amount, he was subjected to severe beatings.
“They seized his ATM card, forced him to reveal his PIN code and withdrew the sum of N111,000 from his account.
“They then forced him to contact his brother-in-law at Burkina Faso to send the remaining money,” John said.
She added that acting on the intelligence, Police operatives swiftly moved in and arrested three suspects identified as Iniobong David, 45 years; Edikan Samuel, 23 years and Joseph Jonah Akpan, 27years.
“Other suspects fled the scene upon the arrival of the Police,” she said.
According to DSP John, a search of the hotel room led to the recovery of some incriminating items including a handbag containing one international passport, a national identity card, one voter’s card, six ATM cards from various banks, all bearing the name Utuk Unyime Justine.
She listed other recovered items to include a University of Uyo (UNIUYO) Town Campus Annex gate pass, three button mobile phones, two Android phones, two power banks and a mini bus with REG. NO. KTE 867 XA.
The Police spokesperson added that the suspects were currently in Police custody providing useful information to aid the investigation, while assuring that efforts were ongoing to apprehend other fleeing suspects.
