31st October, 2022
By Ige Adekunle
The Ogun Police Command said it has arrested a couple, Godday and Ebere Samuel, for alleged human trafficking at Atan in Ota area of the state.
SP Abimbola Oyeyemi, the state police spokesperson confirmed this in a press statement in Ota, that the couple was arrested on Oct. 17 for suspected human trafficking.
Oyeyemi explained that the suspects were arrested following a report lodged at Atan Ota Divisional Police Headquarters by one Adeniji Okikiolu, who reported that his 16-year-old daughter, Maria Adeniji, suddenly disappeared from home on Oct. 16.
He explained further that while a search party was organized to look for her, he was informed by someone that the missing girl was seen with Ebere the previous day.
“Upon the information, Ebere 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, Ebere was subsequently detained at the station. But surprisingly, when her husband was contacted, the husband confessed to having taken the missing girl 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,” he said.
Meanwhile, the state 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.