Enugu Police Uncover Transnational Human Trafficking Syndicate, Rescue Victim

The Enugu State Police Command has uncovered a suspected transnational human trafficking syndicate linked to prostitution, arresting a 50-year-old female suspect and rescuing a 20-year-old victim.

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 Public Relations Officer (PPRO) in the state, Daniel Ndukwe.

Ndukwe said the rescued victim, whose name was withheld, is a native of Abia State and was allegedly deceived into resigning from her job in Aba after being promised a lucrative employment opportunity in Senegal, which later turned out to be prostitution-related.

He disclosed that the suspect, who operated from Amorji-Nike, Enugu, 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., to swear an oath of allegiance in preparation for the planned trafficking.

The PPRO explained that the action was allegedly carried out on the instruction of other members of the trafficking syndicate who are currently at large.

“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 victim has since been debriefed and reunited with her family, while investigations are ongoing to dismantle the trafficking syndicate and arrest other suspects connected to the crime,” Ndukwe said.

He added that the Commissioner of Police, Mamman Bitrus Giwa, has directed the State Criminal Investigation Department (SCID) to take over the case and ensure that all persons connected to the crime were arrested and prosecuted.

According to him, the CP reaffirmed the Command’s commitment to combating human trafficking, prostitution, and other related crimes, while urging members of the public to continue to provide timely and credible information to the police.

Meanwhile, the Enugu State Police Command, in a joint operation with the Nigerian Army, Forest Guards, Neighbourhood Watch Group, and local vigilantes, has neutralised a suspected kidnapper and rescued a kidnap victim in Udenu Local Government Area of the state.

The operation followed a report received in the early hours of Thursday, January 29, 2026, that a male victim had been abducted by armed men in Ezimo-Uno community.

Ndukwe said that upon receiving the report, the Commissioner of Police ordered the immediate deployment of security operatives, who launched a coordinated operation to rescue the victim and apprehend the suspects.

He said the operatives encountered the kidnappers in the Agu-Shere and Okpakereke forest areas, where the suspects opened fire on the security team.

“The operatives responded with mastery and precision, neutralising one of the suspects, while others fled deeper into the forest bordering Benue State with varying degrees of gunshot injuries,” he stated.

The victim was rescued unhurt, while items recovered from the scene included one AK-47 rifle loaded with 20 rounds of live ammunition, an extra magazine, two daggers, military camouflage uniforms, mobile phones, assorted food items, cooking utensils, and a freshly slaughtered chicken.

Ndukwe said a manhunt for the fleeing suspects was ongoing and reiterated the Commissioner of Police’s assurance that violent crime in the state would be decisively tackled.

He also urged residents, particularly healthcare and medical service providers, to promptly report to the police any persons presenting with gunshot injuries.