Police Arrest Human Trafficker In Cross River

Operatives of the Cross River police command have confirmed the arrest of a suspected human trafficker in the state

The suspect, identified as Victor Eyop, a 35-year-old was arrested following a complaint lodged against the suspect.

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Confirming the arrest to newsmen on Monday, December 23, the state commissioner of police, CP Gyogon Grimah said the suspect is alleged to be involved in trafficking girls from Nigeria to Libya.

He also added that on November 9, a man, Chidi Samuel had failed a complaint against the suspect, claiming he and his wife allegedly recruited one Deborah Nyong, 25.

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

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Grimah added that a taxi driver was sent to pick the girls in Kaduna, but it developed a fault during the journey.

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.

Upon interrogations, Victor said he didn’t know he was committing a crime, adding that he was only helping people go abroad.

“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.