Delta Police Rescue Human Trafficking Victim, Arrest Suspected Trafficker
By Naomi Onome
The Delta State Police Command has recorded another success in its ongoing fight against human trafficking with the arrest of a suspected trafficker and the rescue of a 25-year-old woman who was allegedly lured to Côte d’Ivoire under false pretences and forced into prostitution.
The victim, whose identity was withheld, was reportedly deceived by the suspect, 26-year-old Ese Betty Isiorho, with the promise of learning a hairdressing trade in Côte d’Ivoire. However, police investigations revealed that upon arriving in the West African country, she was allegedly coerced into prostitution.
According to the Delta State Police Command, the arrest followed a petition submitted to the police alleging that the suspect had fraudulently recruited the victim for overseas travel.
Acting on the petition, operatives attached to the Effurun Area Command arrested Isiorho, who reportedly confessed during interrogation to trafficking the victim and another young woman in her twenties to Côte d’Ivoire. The suspect allegedly handed both women over to a woman identified only as Madam Purity, who was said to have engaged them in prostitution.
Following sustained investigations and collaboration with relevant authorities, the police successfully rescued the 25-year-old victim and facilitated her return to Nigeria. She has since been reunited with her family and is currently receiving medical care.
The police disclosed that efforts are ongoing to rescue the second victim, who is still believed to be in Côte d’Ivoire, and to apprehend other members of the suspected human trafficking syndicate.
Commending the officers involved in the operation, the Commissioner of Police, Delta State Command, Yemi Oyeniyi, reaffirmed the command’s commitment to combating human trafficking and other forms of organised crime.
He also urged members of the public to remain vigilant and promptly report suspicious recruitment schemes and trafficking-related activities to the police.
The statement was issued on Sunday by the Police Public Relations Officer of the Delta State Command, SP Bright Edafe.
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