Plans by suspected human traffickers to export young Nigerian women from Kaduna to Ivory Coast for sexual exploitation have been scuttled by operatives of the Lagos Police Command.

The victims, aged between 18 and 20, were allegedly lured to the state with promises of legitimate employment at big restaurants in Lagos.

But with their arrival in Lagos on May 23, they were allegedly told that they would be moved to Ivory Coast to work instead, a development that triggered a protest from some of the victims.

Sources said one of the victims who vehemently opposed the idea, reported to the police at Tolu in Ajegunle, adding that the case was transferred to the State Criminal Investigation Department (SCID), Panti, following the directive of the Commissioner of Police, Tijani Fatai.

According to a police source, the victims were never informed of the alleged plan before leaving Kaduna.

“One of the victims objected after discovering that she was being taken abroad for prostitution rather than the promised job opportunity.

“She immediately told the suspect that prostitution was not what they had been told they were coming to Lagos for. The suspect allegedly took the girls to a motor park with plans to facilitate their movement out of the country.

“Alarmed by the development, one of the victims approached the police and lodged a complaint. Following the report, detectives launched an investigation and subsequently apprehended the suspect,” the source said.

Police said the victims were safe, adding that contact with individuals connected to the alleged trafficking arrangement was established.

It said investigations have been concluded and the suspect would be charged to court as soon as possible. (The Nation)