In a significant development, the Delta State Police Command has successfully apprehended Chioma Edafe, a 36-year-old woman from Umuogbezea Community in Imo State. Edafe was running a hotel in Ughelli where teenage girls were being exploited as sex workers. The operation led to the rescue of twenty-three young girls who had fallen victim to this heinous crime.
The police are also actively searching for another individual named Chinyere, who was responsible for trafficking these teenagers from the East to the aforementioned hotel for forced prostitution.
According to SP. Bright Edafe, the State Police Public Relations Officer, the Commissioner of Police, CP Abaniwonda Olufemi, acted upon credible information received by the Command regarding the activities of Chinyere. It was discovered that Chinyere specialized in trafficking women from the East to Ughelli for the purpose of prostitution. In response, CP Abaniwonda Olufemi assigned DPO Ekpan, CSP Aliyu Shaba, to act swiftly on the gathered intelligence, locate the hotel, and apprehend the suspect.
The police successfully located one of the victims on July 15, 2024, approximately at 7:00 PM. Although the victim’s name is withheld for their protection, she bravely disclosed the illegal activities orchestrated by the suspect, Chinyere, whose full surname is currently unknown, and who remains at large.
According to the victim’s testimony, Chinyere enticed the teenagers with enticing job offers at restaurants, falsely claiming that they would be working as salesgirls in Delta State. One of the teenagers revealed that she was deceived into leaving her parents from Abia State, with the promise of working as a salesgirl in a bar, earning a monthly salary of ₦30,000. However, upon their arrival in Ughelli on July 12, 2024, they discovered the horrifying truth. They found themselves surrounded by other teenagers, all of whom were naked, and were informed that they had been brought there for prostitution. The victims courageously refused to comply, resulting in their immediate expulsion from the hotel.
Based on this crucial information, a combined team of surveillance officers swiftly stormed the ‘Big Dafe Hotel’ located on Ughelli/Patani Road. They successfully apprehended Chioma Edafe, the 36-year-old hotel owner, along with thirty-five other individuals, twenty-three of whom were teenage girls. However, the main suspect, Chinyere, is still at large, prompting a serious manhunt by the authorities.
The Delta State Police Command urges the public to report any distressing situations promptly. If you have information or require assistance, please contact your local police division or call the following control room numbers: 08036684974, 08114895600, and 08025666914.
We commend the Delta State Police Command for their unwavering commitment to combatting human trafficking and ensuring the safety and well-being of vulnerable individuals. Let us all remain vigilant and united in the fight against such abhorrent crimes in our society.
