By Christopher Oji
The Nigeria Police has busted a human trafficking syndicate recruiting commercial sex workers for its counterpart in Mauritania.
The syndicate allegedly led by a woman, Stella, was operating in Ipaja/Ayobo area of Lagos.
The syndicate was busted March 22, 2025, by Operatives of Zonal Intelligence Response Squad (ZIRS) of Zone 2, Police Command, Onikan, Lagos.
The operatives were said to have stormed the traffickers’ base at Command, Meran area of the state ,where Stella Edem and Susan Michael were arrested.
According to Zonal Police Public Relations Officer (ZPPRO) Zone 2, Command headquarters, CSP Ayuba Umma:
“Stella Edem confessed to the crime saying that she was introduced to one Anabel, who is based in Mauritania , by Rosemary Isaiah Otobong,who has been prosecuted for the same offense and is currently serving jail term in the Nigeria Correctional Facility.
“She added that Anabel contracted her to recruit young girls below the age of 22 years to be used as sex workers in Mauritania and that she was paid N50,000 as commission for each young girl sent to Mauritania.
“ She confessed that among other girls she recruited is her 19- year -old daughter,citing that she had so far received a total of N500,000 from Anabel.
“Her accomplice Susan Michael, confessed to have been contracted by Stella Edem to recruit young girls to serve as domestic staff in Mauritania, but upon questioning and further inquiries she discovered the girls were to be used as sex workers hence she withdrew from the said business. She added that the only girl she sent to Stella Edem, was rejected due to age and body size and that it was at that point that she felt that something wasn’t right”.
Umma said that investigation was on-going and that the suspects would be charged to court upon completion of investigation.
In another development, Umma in a statement, said that Operatives of the Command also arrested suspected cult members.
“Intelligence at the disposal of the Assistant Inspector General of Police in-charge of Zone 2 Command; comprising Lagos and Ogun State Police Commands about the criminal activities, hideout and plans of suspected members of Eiye fraternity,terrorizing Ijebu-Ife axis of Ogun State led to the deployment of Zonal Dragon Squad II (ZDS-II) for discrete operation.
“On March 19, the hideouts of the said cult group was raided while the group was planning an attack where one Orekoya Abayomi, 54, was arrested as others escaped through nearby bush. He led the team to his residence where the following items were recovered:One locally made Single Barrel Pistol,Six live cartridges,21 Voter’s Cards with different names (suspected to be fake) and One Emerald Pump Action Gun with Breach No. 1335”.
She said that investigation was ongoing.