Couple Arrested For Attempting To Traffic 16-Yr-Old Girl To Burkina Faso
A couple, Godday and Ebere Samuel were on the 17th of October 2022 arrested by men of Ogun State Police Command on the allegation of involvement in human trafficking.
The suspects were arrested following a report lodged at Atan Ota divisional headquarters by one Adeniji Okikiolu, who reported that his 16 years 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.
Upon the information, Ebere Samuel was invited to the station, but she vehemently denied ever setting eyes on the missing girl on or before that day. Not satisfied with her plea of alibi, she was subsequently detained at the station.
A statement by SP Abimbola Oyeyemi, Police Public Relations Officer in the state stated that 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 statement read in part.
Meanwhile, the Commissioner of Police, CP 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.
