Police Rescue Nigerian Woman Sold For ₦770,000 To Traffickers In Mali
…Uncover 42 Women Trapped in Gold-Mining Camp, Arrest Three Suspects
Princess-Ekwi Ajide
A 21-year-old Nigerian woman allegedly sold for ₦770,000 to human traffickers in Mali has been rescued by the Nigeria Police, exposing a trafficking network suspected of holding about 42 Nigerian women captive in a remote gold-mining settlement.
The victim, identified as Miss Godiya Amos (not her real name), was reportedly lured from Akwanga, Nasarawa State, with promises of lucrative employment abroad before being trafficked through illegal routes in the Republic of Benin to Mali, where she was allegedly forced into prostitution.
The Force Intelligence Department Special Tactical Squad (FID-STS) disclosed this during a press briefing in Abuja on Tuesday, announcing the arrest of three suspected members of the international trafficking network.
According to the police, the victim was recruited by one Orgba Solomon, 28, who allegedly confiscated her mobile phone and travel documents before transporting her out of Nigeria on 26 September 2026.
She was subsequently handed over to other members of the network and allegedly sold for CFA 420,000, equivalent to approximately ₦770,000.
Police investigations revealed that her refusal to engage in prostitution attracted severe beatings, while her captors allegedly forced her to take a blood oath at a shrine before subjecting her to sexual exploitation.
The breakthrough followed a report by the victim’s sister, prompting an intelligence-led investigation by operatives of the FID-STS under the leadership of ACP Victor Ogbiede Godfrey.
The police said Solomon returned to Nigeria on 18 October to recruit more young women for trafficking to Senegal and Mali, providing an opportunity for operatives to intensify surveillance and dismantle parts of the network.
Three other female victims – Martha Godiya, Amina Usman and Hadisa Yahaya – were rescued during the operation and reunited with their families.
The suspects arrested were Daniel Aondofa, 26; Orgba Solomon, also known as Terry, 28, and identified as the alleged gang leader residing in the Republic of Benin; and Thankgod Ocho, 25. All three are indigenes of Benue State.
Their arrests, the police said, were facilitated by digital intelligence and information obtained during investigations.
The rescued woman further disclosed that approximately 42 Nigerian females were being held in a makeshift camp within a remote gold-mining settlement in Mali, where they were allegedly subjected to forced prostitution, restricted movement and slave-like conditions.
The police said efforts are ongoing to locate the camp, rescue the remaining victims and apprehend other members of the trafficking syndicate.
Police recover five stolen vehicles, arrest suspects
In a separate operation, the FID-STS arrested two suspected members of a criminal syndicate linked to armed robbery, vehicle theft and receiving stolen property in Taraba State.
The suspects, Aminu Shafiu, 35, and Mohammed Yahaya, 33, both from Yola, Adamawa State, were arrested on 16 October.
Five vehicles were recovered during the operation, including two Toyota Corolla cars, a Toyota Pontiac Vibe, a Toyota Sienna and another Toyota Pontiac.
Police said the suspects confessed to their involvement in the alleged crimes and provided information that could lead to the arrest of other members of the syndicate.
Three gun runners arrested in Katsina
The tactical squad also arrested three suspected gun runners and bandit collaborators accused of terrorising residents of Funtua Zone in Katsina State.
Those arrested on 1 October were Musa Lawal, 30, and Bello Abubakar, 25, both from Dandume Local Government Area of Katsina State, and Abubakar Mohammed, 24, from Damaturu, Yobe State.
Items recovered from the suspects included one fabricated pistol, three fabricated AK-47 rifles and eight rounds of 7.6mm live ammunition.
The police said investigations were continuing to identify other members of the suspected network, recover additional weapons and establish the full extent of their operations.
The Assistant Commissioner of Police in charge of FID-STS, ACP Godfrey Ogbiede Victor, said the operations followed directives by the Inspector-General of Police, Olatunji Rilwan Disu, to strengthen security and protect lives and property, particularly those of vulnerable persons.
He reaffirmed the unit’s commitment to sustaining intelligence-led operations against human trafficking, armed robbery, illegal firearms possession and other forms of criminality.
The police urged members of the public to remain vigilant and report suspicious persons or activities to the nearest police station.
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