From Esther Akaa, Lafia
The Nasarawa State police Command has arrested a suspected human trafficker, Mrs Rita Oti who allegedly attempted to traffick six persons aged between 16 and 24 years .
In a statement issued on Tuesday by the state Police Public Relations Officer( PPRO) ASP Ramhan Nansel said the 40 years old Mrs Oti, popularly known as Mama Gee was arrested along Nasarawa Eggon in Nasarawa while conveying the girls from Makurdi in Benue state to Alagbado area of Lagos State.
The victims who are all from North Bank in Benue State were allegedly lured by the suspect without the consent of their parents under the pretext of offering them jobs in Lagos.
“On 29/09/2020 at about 1430hrs, Police personnel attached to Nasarawa Eggon division, acting on credible information, intercepted a Volkswagen Sharon vehicle driven by one Godwin Yaasa ‘m’ aged 35yrs of Benue State conveying one Rita Oti and six other occupants whose age ranges from 16yrs to 24yrs on transit to Lagos State.
“Upon interrogation, it was discovered that, Rita Oti A.K.A Mama Gee ‘f’ aged 40yrs of Ebonyi State, on the pretext of giving the victims job, criminally lured Blessing Williams ‘f’ aged 16yrs, Mercy Agidi ‘f’ aged 17yrs, Jennifer Shummaver ‘f’ aged 24yrs, Catherine Moses ‘f’ aged 23yrs, Moses Zam ‘m’ aged 19yrs, and Benjamin Amni ‘m’ aged 21yrs all of North bank, Benue State without the consent of their parents and was conveying them to Alagbado area of Lagos State before she was arrested at Nasarawa Eggon LGA of Nasarawa State.
“Furthermore, Police investigation was extended to the address given by the suspect in Lagos State, it was discovered that, their destination was a business premises that has been abandoned for several years,” the statement revealed.
It stated further that the state Commissioner of Police, CP Bola Longe directed that, the case be transferred to State Criminal Investigation Department( CID) in Lafia for exhaustive investigation and subsequent reuniting of the victims with their families.
The statement therefore, appealed to residents of the State to be wary of criminals who disguise as destiny helpers in order to perpetrate their evil agenda.