Police Arrest Syndicate For Trafficking Girls To Mauritania.
The Zone 2 Police Command, Onikan, Lagos, has arrested a syndicate allegedly involved in the trafficking of young girls from Nigeria to Mauritania for prostitution and sexual exploitation.
The Zonal Public Relations Officer (ZPRO), CSP Umma Ayuba, confirmed the arrest in a statement released in Lagos yesterday. She revealed that the operation took place on March 22 in the Meiran area of the state, where officers apprehended two suspects.
According to Ayuba, operatives of the Zonal Intelligence Response Squad (ZIRS), led by SP Francis Kpoughul, raided the syndicate’s base, leading to the arrests.
Suspects Confess to the Crime
During interrogation, the first suspect admitted to her involvement in trafficking young girls. She disclosed that she was introduced to a Mauritania-based woman by another trafficker, who had previously been convicted and is currently serving a jail sentence.
The suspect further confessed that the Mauritanian woman contracted her to recruit girls under the age of 22 for prostitution. She received ₦50,000 as commission for each girl sent. Shockingly, she admitted to trafficking her own 19-year-old daughter and claimed to have earned over ₦500,000 from the illegal trade.
Accomplice Attempts to Withdraw
The second suspect, identified as an accomplice, initially believed she was recruiting girls for domestic work in Mauritania. However, after realising the true nature of the operation, she attempted to withdraw from the scheme.
“She confessed that the only girl she sent to the first suspect was rejected due to her age and body size. That was when she realised something was wrong,” Ayuba stated.
Ongoing Investigation and Legal Action
The ZPRO assured the public that investigations are ongoing and that the suspects will be charged to court upon completion of the process.
The arrest underscores the police’s commitment to tackling human trafficking and ensuring the safety of vulnerable young girls. Authorities have urged citizens to report suspicious activities to help combat such exploitation and abuse.
