Police arrest suspect for alleged human trafficking in Cross River

The Cross River State Police Command has arrested a 35-year-old man, Victor Eyop, on charges of trafficking young girls from Nigeria to Libya.  

This was confirmed by the state’s Commissioner of Police, CP Gyogon Grimah, during a press briefing in Calabar on Monday.

Grimah revealed that the arrest followed a report filed on November 9 by one Mr. Chidi Samuel, who accused Eyop of involvement in human trafficking.

According to Samuel, Eyop and his wife, Esther Eyop, allegedly recruited a 25-year-old woman, Deborah Nyong, under false pretenses.

Investigations are ongoing to unravel the full extent of the suspect’s activities and determine whether more individuals are involved in the operation.

This incident highlights the persistent challenge of human trafficking in Nigeria and the ongoing efforts by law enforcement to combat the illegal trade. Authorities have assured the public that justice will be served, with the suspect set to face prosecution.

“They also recruited two others, Ms Anita Lawrence, 25, and Ms Mabel Tom, 16, for human trafficking to Libya after they were tested for the Human Immune Virus (HIV) and other Sexually Transmitted Diseases (STIs).

“After the test, the suspect took them to his house, and the next day gave them a substance they were to mix in their bath water for cleansing before embarking on the journey.

“On Nov. 12, the suspect and his wife drove the girls to Bogobiri Street in Calabar, where they booked tickets and transported them to Kaduna with arrangements with one Hajiya (names unknown) to receive the girls in Kaduna,” he said.

The commissioner noted that while in Kaduna, a taxi driver was sent to pick up the girls and further transported them to Katsina. However, along the road to Katsina, the vehicle developed a fault.

Grimah said it was at this point that the victims realised that they were being trafficked, started contacting people for help, and the complainant, Samuel, sent money to them through a point-of-sale (POS) operator along the road.

He said, with that money, they boarded a taxi back to Kaduna and found their way back to Calabar on Nov. 15.

Grimah said that court prosecution would begin the moment the investigation was concluded.

On his part, the suspect claimed that he did not know that what he did was an offence, noting that he was only assisting people to travel out.

“I am not a travel agent, but my sister is in Libya; it is through her that the girls are being taken to Libya.

“The girls were aware of the plan from inception that they would be taken to Katsina and from there ‘Hajiya’ would direct them on how to get to Libya,” he narrated. (NAN)