The Edo State Government has rescued and repatriated three trafficked indigenes of the state from Burkina Faso, including a young woman who lost her sight following severe abuse.

The Director-General of the Edo State Migration Agency, Lucky Agazuma, disclosed this while briefing journalists on arrival at the Benin Airport yesterday.

Agazuma, while describing the development as “a happy and a sad day” in view of the victims’ ordeal, identified the victims as Precious, Peace, and Evans.

Evans was said to have travelled in January 2026 but was immediately arrested and detained until his plight came to the attention of the Edo State Government. Agazuma said the rescue operation was triggered by an alert from Nigeria’s Ambassador to Burkina Faso, Ambassador Muhammad Galadima Danladi, who contacted the Edo State Government over the plight of stranded indigenes.

He added that the information was promptly escalated to Governor Monday Okpebholo, who ordered immediate intervention. “It is quite a happy and a sad day with the situation around us. The Nigerian Ambassador to Burkina Faso reached out to the Governor of Edo State about stranded Edo indigenes. One of the victims was deceived into going to Burkina Faso, and on getting there, he was imprisoned and remained there until we secured his release,” Agazuma said.

Agazuma, who said that two young women were also trafficked under the guise of employment opportunities, noted that the young ladies were forced into prostitution upon arrival. He added that their refusal to comply led to brutal consequences at the hands of their traffickers.

The agency’s boss revealed that one of the victims was subjected to extreme abuse, resulting in the loss of her sight.

“Two other ladies were deceived and trafficked from Edo to Burkina Faso with promises of jobs. On getting there, they were forced into prostitution, and when they declined, they were beaten mercilessly and subjected to all sorts of inhuman treatment.

“The second victim was maltreated to the point where she lost her sight before the governor quickly directed that we rescue them back to Edo. She will be taken to the hospital on the governor’s directive to see what can be done about her condition.”