Operatives of the Zone 2 Command of the Nigeria Police Force have arrested a woman and her accomplice for allegedly trafficking young girls, including her own daughter, to Mauritania for commercial sex work in exchange for N50,000.
The Zonal Public Relations Officer, Umma Ayuba, confirmed the arrest in a statement on Tuesday, stating that the suspects were apprehended at their hideout in the Meiran area of Lagos State on March 22.
Investigations indicate that the syndicate collaborated with accomplices in Mauritania to lure and traffic victims under false pretenses.
Meanwhile, upon their arrest and interrogation, the suspects reportedly confessed to their involvement in the crime.
The statement read, “Operatives of the Zonal Intelligence Response Squad led by SP Francis Kpoughul stormed their base where two suspects were apprehended.
“The first suspect said she was introduced to a woman based in Mauritania by another woman, who has been prosecuted for the same offence and is currently serving a jail term.”
Ayuba explained that the first suspect confessed that she received a sum of N50,000 for each person, and among her victims was her 19-year-old daughter.
“She said the woman in Mauritania contracted her to recruit young girls below the age of 22 to be used as sex workers there.
“She added that she received N50,000 as a commission for each girl sent to Mauritania.
“She confessed that, among the girls she recruited, was her 19-year-old daughter. She also admitted to receiving over N500,000 from the woman in Mauritania,” Ayuba stated.
According to him, “The second suspect was said to have admitted that she was contracted by the first suspect to recruit girls as domestic staff in Mauritania, but when she sent one victim to the first suspect, she rejected it.
“The second suspect told the police further that she became suspicious after the victim she sent to the first suspect was rejected, and upon further questioning, she realised that the victims were to be used as sex workers.
“She said that, upon further questioning, she discovered the girls were to be used as sex workers and decided to withdraw from the business.
“She added that the only girl she sent to the first suspect was rejected due to her age and body size. That was when she realized something was wrong.”
Ayuba added that the suspects would be charged in court upon the conclusion of an ongoing investigation.
