The Ogun State Police Command says its operatives have arrested a couple, Godday and Ebere Samuel, for alleged human trafficking at Atan in Ota area of the state.

The command’s spokesperson, SP Abimbola Oyeyemi, made this known via a statement issued on Monday.

Oyeyemi said the couple were arrested on October 17 following a report lodged at Atan Ota Divisional Police Headquarters by one Adeniji Okikiolu, who reported that his 16-year-old daughter, Maria Adeniji, suddenly disappeared from home the previous day.

He explained that while a search party was organised to look for her, he was informed by someone that the missing girl was seen with Ebere the previous day.

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“Upon the information, Ebere was invited to the station, but she vehemently denied ever seeing the missing girl on or before that day.

“Not satisfied with her plea of alibi, Ebere was subsequently detained at the station.

“But surprisingly, when her husband was contacted, the husband confessed to have taken the missing girl to somewhere in Lagos for onward transportation to Burkina Faso where she will be engaged as a maid to one of their associates.

“Preliminary investigation revealed that the couple has been into the business of human trafficking for some time now and that their accomplices are in Burkina Faso,” the police spokesperson stated.

Meanwhile, the Ogun State Commissioner of Police, Lanre Bankole, has ordered the immediate transfer of the suspects to the Anti-Human Trafficking and Child Labour unit of the State Criminal Investigation Department for discreet investigation and diligent prosecution.

The Star