I trafficked my 19-year-old daughter for sex trade in Mauritania – Suspect

A suspected member of a human trafficking syndicate has admitted trafficking her 19-year-old daughter to be used as sex worker in Mauritania. The suspect also admitted receiving the sum of N500,000 for trafficking 10 young girls from one Anabel, whom she identified as the leader of the syndicate based in Mauritania. She admitted joining the […]

A suspected member of a human trafficking syndicate has admitted trafficking her 19-year-old daughter to be used as sex worker in Mauritania.

The suspect also admitted receiving the sum of N500,000 for trafficking 10 young girls from one Anabel, whom she identified as the leader of the syndicate based in Mauritania.

She admitted joining the gang in trafficking young girls from Nigeria to Mauritania in 2023.

Stella, who was arrested by detectives from Zone 2 Command Headquarters, Lagos, revealed that the girls, who are mainly between the ages of 18 and 22, were trafficked by road to Mauritania where they are forced into sex trade by the leader of the gang.

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She said, “Among the young girls I have recruited is my 19- year-old daughter.  I Have so far received over N500,000 from Anabel.

“I was introduced into the business by one Rosemary Isaiah Otobong. She is the one who introduced me to Anabel, who is based in Mauritania.

“Rosemary Isaiah Otobong is currently serving jail term in Nigeria for the same offence. It was Anabel that contracted me to recruit young girls below the age of 22 to be used as sex workers in Mauritania. I am paid N50,000 as commission on each young girl sent to Mauritania.”

Parading the suspects before newsmen in Lagos, the Assistant Inspector General of Police (AIG), Zone 2, Adegoke Fayoade, said detectives from the Zonal Intelligence Response Squad (ZIRS) on March 22, 2025, led by SP Francis Kpoughul, raided the Ipaja/Ayobo base of a gang of human traffickers operating in Ipaja/Ayobo area of the state and arrested two female members of the gang.

The AIG, who was represented by the Zone’s Public Relations Officer, CSP Ayuba Umma, identified the suspects as Stella Edem and Susan Michael, whom he said were arrested at the gang’s operational base at Meran command area of Ipaja.

He said during interrogation, Stella Edem admitted being introduced to Anabel, who is the gang’s leader based in Mauritania by Rosemary Isaiah Otobong.

“Her accomplice Susan Michael confessed to have being contracted by Stella Edem to recruit young girls to serve as domestic staff in Mauritania but upon questioning and further inquiries, she discovered that the girls were to be used as sex workers, hence, she withdrew from the said business, adding that the only girl she sent to Stella Edem was rejected due to age and body size and it was at that point she felt something wasn’t right,” he added.

Fayoade stated further that investigation is on-going and that the suspects would be charged to court upon completion of investigation.