Agents from the Onikan District 2 Police Station in Lagos have detained a joint organization that allegedly trafficked girls from Nigeria to prostitution and S3xual exploitation in Mauritania.
Regional Public Relations Officer CSP Umma Ayuba confirmed this in a statement in Lagos on Tuesday, April 1, 2025.
She said the group was arrested on March 22 at the command of the state’s Melan area.
“Agents from the Regional Intelligence Response Squad led by SP Francis Kpoughul rushed into their base and two suspects were arrested,” Ayuba said.
ZPRO said the suspect pleaded guilty to the crime.
“The first suspect said she was introduced by another woman to a woman in Mauritania who was indicted for the same crime and is currently serving her sentence,” he said.
“She said the woman from Mauritania signed her up and recruited young girls under the age of 22 to use as an S3X worker there.”
She added that she received N50,000A as commission for every girl sent to Mauritania.
“She admitted that among the girls she recruited was her 19-year-old daughter. She also admitted that she received over N500,000 from women in Mauritania.”
ZPRO said her accomplice, the second suspect, admitted that the first suspect would be recruiting the girl as a family worker in Mauritania.
“She said after further doubt, she found that the girls would be used as S3X workers and decided to quit the business.
“She added that the only girl she sent to the first suspect was denied because of her age and body size. That was when she realized something was wrong,” Ayuba said.
According to ZPRO, the investigation is underway and the suspect will be prosecuted in court upon completion.
