The Ogun State Police Command has arrested a 28-year-old woman, Opeyemi Adetoro, for trafficking three young girls from the Oke Itoku area of Abeokuta to Libya. The arrest follows a complaint from the mother of one of the victims, which has led to an ongoing investigation into the illegal operation.
The case came to light on March 2, 2025, when Kehinde Somorin, a resident of the area, visited the police station to report a shocking incident. Somorin told the police that her 17-year-old daughter, Ifeoluwa, had been taken to Libya without her knowledge or consent by Adetoro. According to Somorin, she received the distressing news from her neighbour, Latifat, who informed her that Adetoro had taken her daughter away.
The police immediately sprang into action, with Chief Superintendent of Police Omolola Odutola, the spokesperson for the Ogun State Police Command, confirming the arrest in a statement on Monday. The case has highlighted the continuing issue of human trafficking, particularly the dangerous journey many young people are forced into for exploitation abroad.
According to Odutola, after receiving the complaint from Somorin, the police launched an immediate investigation. During their interrogation, Opeyemi Adetoro admitted to transporting not just Somorin’s daughter, but also two other girls — 16-year-old Ameerah Bamgboye and another girl, identified only as Okikiola — from Ogun State to Akure, Ondo State.
From there, they were taken to Sokoto State, where an agent was reportedly waiting to smuggle them into Libya. This revelation painted a disturbing picture of the human trafficking network that had been operating within the country, exploiting vulnerable young girls for reasons yet to be fully determined.
The case is a stark reminder of the lengths to which traffickers go to exploit young people, often using deceit and manipulation to lure them into dangerous situations. The girls were reportedly promised opportunities in Libya, which is often a destination for individuals seeking better economic prospects abroad, only to find themselves in perilous situations involving forced labour or worse.
Human trafficking remains a serious issue in many parts of Nigeria, with young people often lured by promises of better jobs and opportunities in foreign countries. However, many of these victims end up being sold into slavery, forced into prostitution, or subjected to inhumane working conditions once they reach their destination.
