The police command in Cross River has apprehended one Victor Eyop, 35, for alleged trafficking of girls from Nigeria to Libya.

Police commissioner Gyogon Grimah confirmed this on Monday at a news conference in Calabar.

Mr Grimah explained that on November 9, a  complainant, Chidi Samuel, in Calabar, reported a case of human trafficking against the suspect.

He said on that date, Mr Samuel claimed that the suspect and his wife, Esther Eyop, allegedly recruited Deborah Nyong, 25.

“They also recruited two others, Anita Lawrence, 25, and Mabel Tom, 16, for human trafficking to Libya after they were tested for the Human Immune Virus (HIV) and other sexually transmitted diseases.

“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 November 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 transport them to Katsina. However, along the road to Katsina, the vehicle developed a fault.

Mr Grimah said it was at this point that the victims realised that they were being trafficked, started contacting people for help and the complainant, Mr Samuel, sent money to them through a point-of-sale operator along the road.

He added that, with that money, they boarded a taxi back to Kaduna and found their way back to Calabar on November 15. Mr Grimah also mentioned the suspects’ prosecution begin shortly at the conclusion of police investigation.

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,” said Mr Eyop. “The girls were aware of the plan from inception that they would be taken to Katsina and from where ‘Hajiya’ would direct them on how to get to Libya.” 

(NAN)