The Delta State Police Command said its operatives have rescued 25 victims of human trafficking in the Ugheli area of the state.
The Command’s spokesperson, SP Bright Edafe, stated this in a statement on Thursday in Asaba.
According to him, on June 15, 2024, the Command received credible information on the activities of one Chinyere (surname unknown) who specialises in trafficking women from the Southeast to Ughelli, Delta State for prostitution.
The Police spokesman revealed that she lures the girls by telling them that they are coming to Delta State to work as a salesgirls in a restaurant.
“The Commissioner of Police, Delta State, CP Abaniwonda Olufemi, detailed the DPO, Ekpan CSP Aliyu Shaba, to immediately work on the gathered intelligence and ensure that the hotel is located and the suspect is arrested.
“Following this order, one of the victims (name withheld) was arrested, as she revealed the illegal activities of the suspect; Chinyere, who is currently at large.”
According to Edafe, the victim stated further that the suspect deceived her parents into following her down to Delta State from Abia State to be a salesgirl in a bar with a salary of N30,000 monthly.
Edafe added that the victim and two other young girls followed the suspect down to a town, later understood to be Ughelli, but on getting to their final destination, they saw other teenagers.
“They were naked and were informed that it was prostitution they were brought for which they declined, and as a result, they were immediately thrown out of the hotel.
“Based on the information, a combined team of surveillance squad stormed the hotel, ‘Big Dafe Hotel’ by Ughelli/Patani Road and arrested one Chioma Edafe, 36, who runs the hotel, and 35 others, among whom 23 are all teenagers,” he further disclosed.
He said a manhunt for the main suspect, Chinyere, was ongoing.