The police command in Enugu has busted a transnational human trafficking for prostitution syndicate, leading to the detention of a 50-year-old suspect.

This was disclosed in a statement by the command’s spokesman, Daniel Ndukwe, on Thursday.

Mr Ndukwe said that the detention of the suspect and rescue of a 20-year-old female victim (name withheld) took place on January 16 by operatives attached to the Igbo-Eze South Police Division, following swift action on credible intelligence.

According to him, preliminary investigations indicate that the victim, a native of Abia, was allegedly deceived into resigning from her job in Aba with the promise of a more lucrative employment opportunity in Senegal.

The spokesman said that the more lucrative employment opportunity in Senegal later turned out to be prostitution-related.

“On the same date, at about 7:00 p.m., the suspect, who operates from Amorji-Nike, Enugu, allegedly took the victim to a shrine in Alor-Agu Community, Igbo-Eze South Local Government Area, on the instruction of other syndicate members still at large.

“They went to the shrine to swear an oath of allegiance ahead of the planned trafficking to Senegal. Upon receiving the information at about 8p.m., the divisional police officer promptly led a team of operatives to the location, where the suspect was detained 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 detain other suspects connected to the crime,” he said.

Mr Ndukwe said that the police commissioner, Mamman Giwa, had directed the state’s Criminal Investigation Department to ensure that all persons connected with the crime are detained and brought to justice.

He reiterated the Command’s unwavering commitment to combating human trafficking, prostitution, and other related crimes, and urged members of the public to continue to provide timely and credible information to the police.

(NAN)