Operatives of the Enugu State Police Command have uncovered a suspected transnational human trafficking scheme linked to prostitution, arresting a 50-year-old woman, Ibekwe Nkiru, and rescuing a 20-year-old woman.

The Command said the arrest and rescue were carried out by operatives attached to the Igbo-Eze South Police Division, following what it described as “swift action based on credible intelligence.”

Preliminary investigations revealed that the victim, a native of Abia State, was allegedly deceived into resigning from her job in Aba after being promised a more lucrative employment opportunity in Senegal.

The police said upon receiving the information at about 8:00 p.m., the Divisional Police Officer promptly led a team of operatives to the location, where the suspect was arrested and the victim rescued.

In a statement, the Police Public Relations Officer, Daniel Ndukwe, disclosed that the promised job later turned out to be prostitution-related.

According to the Command, earlier that same day, at about 7:10 p.m., the suspect, who operates from the Amorji-Nike area of Enugu, allegedly took the victim to a shrine in Alor-Agu Community, Igbo-Eze South Local Council, Enugu State.

It said the visit was carried out on the instructions of other members of the trafficking syndicate, who are currently at large, for the victim to swear an oath of allegiance ahead of the planned trafficking to Senegal.

The police said the rescued victim has since been debriefed and reunited with her family, while investigations are ongoing to dismantle the entire trafficking network and apprehend other suspects connected to the crime.

The statement added that the Commissioner of Police in Enugu State, Mamman Giwa, has directed the State Criminal Investigation Department to take over the case and ensure that all those involved are identified, arrested and prosecuted.