Nigeria: Police Rescue Nigerian Woman Trafficked to Côte d'Ivoire

What the report says

Police in Delta State said they have arrested a 26-year-old woman, identified as Ese Isiorho, over allegations that she trafficked two young Nigerian women to Côte d’Ivoire under the pretense of vocational training and then handed them over for prostitution. The report, published by Premium Times and distributed by AllAfrica, says the case followed a petition and subsequent investigations by officers from the Effurun area command.

According to the police account, one victim, aged 25, was rescued and returned to Nigeria, where she has been reunited with her family and is receiving medical attention. Authorities said the second alleged victim, also in her 20s, remains in Côte d’Ivoire, and efforts are continuing to secure her release and identify other people linked to the suspected trafficking network. The police also said the suspect allegedly admitted during questioning that the women were taken to a woman known only as Madam Purity for prostitution.

The case highlights an ongoing pattern of cross-border trafficking in West Africa, where victims are often recruited with promises of jobs, training, or migration opportunities. Delta State police commissioner Yemi Oyeniyi praised the officers involved and urged the public to report suspicious recruitment schemes. Human trafficking remains a major concern in Nigeria, especially where deceptive offers target young women seeking work or skills training.