The Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC), Oyo State Command, has arrested a 28-year-old housewife over alleged involvement in human trafficking, following a complaint filed by the victim’s family.
The command’s spokesperson, Samuel Opebiyi, disclosed this in a statement issued to journalists on Saturday in Ibadan, adding that efforts were ongoing to apprehend the suspect’s husband, who is believed to be her accomplice and is currently at large.
According to Opebiyi, the suspect and her husband trafficked a 17-year-old girl to Côte d’Ivoire for prostitution.
The suspect was arrested on January 22, 2026, after the victim’s sister reported the case to the command’s Anti-Human Trafficking Unit on January 20.
Preliminary investigations, according to the NSCDC, revealed that the offence was committed on November 25, 2025, when the suspects orchestrated the movement of the victim abroad under false pretences.
While some accounts indicated Côte d’Ivoire as the destination, investigators are also probing claims that the girl was initially planned to be trafficked to Libya for prostitution.
The NSCDC said the victim was lured with promises of employment opportunities before being trafficked. Investigations further established that the victim was introduced to the trafficking network through one Rodiat, an apprentice at the suspect’s shop located at Ifeleye, Ogunpa Market, Ibadan, where shoes, bags and other accessories are sold.
The victim reportedly approached Rodiat in search of a job, after which she was linked to the suspects.
Opebiyi quoted the Oyo State Commandant of NSCDC, Augustine Padonu, as urging members of the public to remain vigilant and promptly report any suspicious activities related to human trafficking to the corps or other relevant security agencies.
Padonu reiterated the command’s commitment to combating human trafficking and related crimes, assuring that efforts would be intensified to rescue victims and dismantle trafficking networks.
He added that the arrested suspect would be charged to court, while investigations continue to track down and apprehend the fleeing husband.
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