Police arrest suspect over alleged human trafficking in Cross River

Tuesday, December 24, 2024 - Men of the Cross River state police command have apprehended one Victor Eyop, 35, for alleged trafficking of girls from Nigeria to Libya. 

The state Commissioner of Police, CP Gyogon Grimah, confirmed the arrest at a news conference in Calabar,on Monday, December 23.

Grimah explained that on Nov. 9, Chidi Samuel, in Calabar, reported a case of human trafficking against the suspect. He said that on that date, Samuel claimed that the suspect and his wife, Esther Eyop, allegedly recruited 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

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.

 When interrogated, 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.