The Nigeria Police Force has launched efforts to locate about 42 Nigerian women reportedly held captive in a remote gold-mining settlement in Mali, following the rescue of a 21-year-old woman trafficked from Nasarawa State.
The victim, identified as Godiya Amos (not her real name), reportedly escaped the trafficking network through a police operation that also exposed the alleged sale of Nigerian women to foreign operators for sexual exploitation, The Sun reported.
According to the police, the woman was transferred to traffickers in Mali for CFA 420,000, equivalent to approximately N770,000, after being deceived with promises of employment abroad. Her captors allegedly subjected her to repeated physical abuse and forced her into prostitution after she rejected their demands.
The development was disclosed in Abuja on Tuesday by the Commander of the Force Intelligence Department Special Tactical Squad, ACP Victor Ogbiede Godfrey, who said three suspects had been arrested in connection with the operation.
The suspects, identified as Orgba Solomon, 28, Daniel Aondofa, 26, and Thankgod Ocho, 25, are all from Benue State. Solomon, also known as Terry, was described as the alleged head of the trafficking operation, with links to Benin Republic.
Police investigations indicated that Solomon recruited the victim on September 26, 2026, and arranged her movement through Lagos and Benin Republic into Mali. He allegedly seized her phone and travel documents before she was taken across the border, leaving her unable to contact her family.
The police said the arrests followed intelligence-led surveillance after Solomon returned to Nigeria on October 18 to source more young women for recruitment to Mali and Senegal. Information obtained from the suspects subsequently assisted operatives in locating the victim.
The operation also resulted in the rescue of three other women – Martha Godiya, Amina Usman and Hadisa Yahaya – who were allegedly being prepared for trafficking. They have since been reunited with their families.
Godfrey further disclosed that the rescued woman told investigators that dozens of Nigerian women remained in captivity at the Mali settlement, where they were allegedly subjected to beatings, sexual exploitation and conditions resembling slavery.
The rescued 21-year-old has been taken to a police medical facility for examination, while efforts are continuing to identify and recover the other alleged victims and track down additional members of the network.
