Police Rescue Nigerian Woman Sold for ₦770,000 in Mali, Arrest Three Suspected Traffickers

The Nigeria Police Force has rescued a 21-year-old Nigerian woman who was allegedly trafficked to Mali and forced into prostitution, following an intelligence-led operation that resulted in the arrest of three suspected members of an international human trafficking network. The operation was carried out by operatives of the Special Tactical Squad of the Force Intelligence Department between October 1 and 27, 2026. The suspects were identified as Daniel Aondofa, 26; Orgba Solomon, 28, popularly known as Terry; and ThankGod Ocho, 25. According to the police, Solomon was the alleged leader of the syndicate, while all three suspects are indigenes of Benue State.

The victim, identified in the Vanguard report as Patience Darius, is from Akwanga, Nasarawa State. Police investigations revealed that Solomon allegedly lured her with promises of lucrative employment opportunities abroad. She was reportedly taken from Nigeria through Lagos and illegal border routes into the Republic of Benin before being transported to gold-mining camps in Mali. Before leaving Nigeria, her mobile phone and travel documents were allegedly confiscated to prevent her from communicating with family members. Upon arrival in Mali, she was reportedly handed over to two individuals identified as Mohammed and Marian, also known as Riana, who allegedly sold her for 420,000 CFA francs, equivalent to approximately ₦770,000.

Recounting her ordeal, the victim reportedly told investigators that she was severely beaten after refusing to engage in prostitution. She was also allegedly taken to a shrine and forced to take a blood oath before being subjected to sexual exploitation. The police said the investigation began after the victim’s sister lodged a complaint, prompting operatives to deploy digital intelligence to track the trafficking network. Solomon was reportedly arrested after returning to Nigeria on October 18 to recruit more women for trafficking to Mali and Senegal. Information obtained during the investigation subsequently helped security operatives locate and rescue the victim from Mali.

In a disturbing revelation, the rescued woman reportedly informed investigators that approximately 42 Nigerian women were still being held in a makeshift camp within a remote gold-mining settlement in Mali. She alleged that the women were subjected to forced prostitution, restricted movement and slave-like conditions, making escape extremely difficult. Following her rescue and return to Nigeria, she was taken to a police clinic for medical evaluation. The police said investigations were ongoing to apprehend other members of the syndicate and facilitate the rescue of the remaining victims. The development has renewed concerns about international human trafficking and the exploitation of Nigerian women through fraudulent overseas employment offers.