Officials of the Nigerian Army operating under the 81 Division have apprehended a suspected human trafficker in Lagos.
The spokesperson for the division, Lt. Col Olabisi Ayeni, on Monday, said the development was following actionable intelligence that led to the arrest of a suspect, Olushola Areke, in connection with human trafficking.
Ayeni in a statement said the suspect was accused of kidnapping Miss Fayoke Kunle, a 22-year-old daughter of Ainor Kunle.
He noted Mrs Kunle claimed she had voluntarily entrusted her daughter to the suspect, who promised to secure employment for the young lady in Oshodi, Lagos.
“However, instead of heading to Oshodi as promised, the suspect moved Miss Kunle to Kano, where the victim later discovered herself and overheard discussions about being transported to Libya. Miss Kunle courageously escaped from her captor and returned home on April 23, 2024.
“In response to this alarming report, troops reached out to Areke, and was subsequently arrested at the designated meeting point, where she intended to pick up her supposed other victims,” Ayeni said.
He added that both the suspect and the victim had been handed over to the Ajah Police Command in Lagos for further investigation.
The PUNCH reported on April 22 that the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps in Abuja, the Federal Capital Territory, intercepted 10 individuals suspected of being victims of human trafficking and allegedly being prepared for migration abroad.
Acting on a tip-off, the NSCDC officers intercepted the group at Zuba motor park in Abuja upon their return from Minna, Niger State, where they had purportedly gone to process their international passports as directed by their sponsor.