Fawaz Adebisi
The Delta State Police Command has rescued a 25-year-old Nigerian woman allegedly trafficked to Côte d’Ivoire under the guise of securing a hairdressing apprenticeship and forced into prostitution.
The command also arrested a 26-year-old woman, identified as Ese Betty Isiorho, over her alleged involvement in the human trafficking syndicate.
The Police Public Relations Officer in the state, SP Bright Edafe, disclosed the development in a statement on Saturday, saying the arrest followed a petition accusing the suspect of deceiving the victim with false promises of vocational training abroad.
According to Edafe, investigations revealed that shortly after arriving in Côte d’Ivoire, the victim was allegedly forced into commercial sex work.
He added that the suspect confessed during interrogation to trafficking the rescued victim alongside another Nigerian woman, also in her twenties, to the neighbouring West African country.
Edafe said the victims were allegedly handed over to a woman identified simply as “Madam Purity,” who reportedly compelled them to engage in prostitution.
He said, “The arrest followed a petition alleging that the suspect, Ese Betty Isiorho, deceived the 25-year-old victim with the promise of learning a hairdressing trade in Côte d’Ivoire.
“Investigations revealed that upon arrival in the foreign country, the victim was allegedly forced into prostitution.”
The police spokesperson said sustained investigations and collaboration with relevant authorities led to the successful rescue of one of the victims.
“Following sustained investigative efforts and collaboration, the 25-year-old victim was successfully rescued and returned to Nigeria. She has since been reunited with her family and is receiving medical attention,” Edafe stated.
He disclosed that efforts were ongoing to rescue the second victim, who remains in Côte d’Ivoire, and dismantle the trafficking network.
“Efforts are ongoing to secure the safe return of the second victim, who is also in her twenties and is still believed to be in Côte d’Ivoire, as well as to apprehend other members of the trafficking syndicate,” he added.
Reacting to the operation, the Delta State Commissioner of Police, CP Yemi Oyeniyi, commended the officers involved for their professionalism and determination in breaking up the suspected trafficking ring.
The commissioner reaffirmed the command’s commitment to tackling human trafficking and other forms of organised crime across the state.
He also urged members of the public to remain vigilant and promptly report suspicious recruitment offers or suspected trafficking activities to security agencies, warning that criminal syndicates often lure unsuspecting victims with false promises of employment and better opportunities abroad.
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