Metro

Edo Agency Intercepts 14-yr-old Sickle Cell Sufferer, Others, Trafficked To Libya, Mali

Published

4 months ago

September 11, 2025

Edo State Migration Agency has intercepted a 14-year-old sickle cell sufferer and a 13-year-old girl being trafficked to Libya by a human trafficking syndicate.

Presenting the minors (name withheld) before newsmen on Thursday in Benin, Director-General of the agency, Lucky Agazuma, said the agency heard about the case, swung into action and was able to intercept them in Zaria, Kaduna State.

He said, “The question is, how would a sickle cell girl survive in the desert. The good news is that when we brought them back, they were smart enough to come back with some evidence of receipts of the transport companies they are using in this state to traffic minors out. Based on this evidence, we have already reached out to many transport companies that they shouldn’t involve themselves in this devilish act.”

Agazuma, who said the agency will not fold its arm and watch Edo children trafficked out of the country at a time the state government is spending billions of naira to make sure Edo children have access to quality education, noted that all suspects arrested in connection with the case will be prosecuted in line with the appropriate laws.

The DG, while urging members of the public to report any suspicious case of human traffic to the agency, warned: “If you’re a trafficker, be warned that we are very close to you. It is better if you move away from Edo State.”

The 14-year-old sickle cell sufferer narrated that a boy in the area came to inform her that he wanted to take her and her friend to Libya, warning that they shouldn’t inform their parents until they get to Libya, and when they get there they will call their parents phone as a surprise.

She added that he thereafter took two of them to a lady who took their photo graph and sent via phone to another person who complained of her health, but the lady with them assured the person at the other end that she was healthy.

According to the minor, they were thereafter asked to go and take their bath, after which they went back to the lady who took them to the motor park, bought them food and hijab, and handed them over to a vehicle en route to Kano with a phone number of who to contact.

She said they were on their way when calls from both the boy and lady came in, asking them to come back because their mother had been arrested, and that they will not release the lady’s mother until they return home.

The minor added that when they eventually got to Zaira, they called the contact person who asked them to come, but the lady at the other end called and asked them to return home, adding that the lady thereafter transferred money to a driver in the park who brought them back home.

One of the suspects who identified herself as Comfort Etim, 49, who said she was innocent of the children being trafficked, however, said that the boy actually brought the girls to her daughter with the claim that they were his sisters and that he wanted them to be taken abroad.

Mrs. Etim, who claimed she was never aware that the children were to be trafficked abroad, confessed that her daughter (who is at large) had so far trafficked six minors abroad.

In a related development, the agency also paraded a 18-year-old girl who was deceived of a sale girl job in Lagos but unfortunately trafficked to Mali.

Narrating her ordeal, Joseph Faith said she was promised a sales girl job in Lagos but when they got to Lagos the woman who took her from Afuze, Edo State, proceeded to Cotonou and from there to Mali.

She said the woman in Cotonou handed her over to a Mali going to Mali and returned back to Nigeria, adding that what she said in Mali was different from what she was told she was going to be doing.

“I arrived at Mali around 10PM, they then took me to a woman. When we got there, what she told me I was going to be doing was quite different from what I saw. What the woman uses girls in her place for was prostitution, so I told the woman that I can’t do it, and that I want to go back home. The woman told me that before I can go back home, the woman in Nigeria needs to bring another person to replace me.

“I was there for three weeks. I was starving. That was when I ran to the police station to report, and the police put me in a vehicle back in Nigeria.”

Asked how she survived for the three weeks she spent in Mali, she said: “It was not easy for me. Since I refused to do it (prostitution) she refused to feed me. So, I used to come out at night, and people gave me money. This is how I survived.”

Metro

AAU Postpones Resumption Date

Published

8 hours ago

January 10, 2026

Editor

The management of Ambrose Alli University, Ekpoma, Edo State, has approved, on behalf of the university’s Senate, the postponement of students’ resumption and commencement of academic activities.

In a statement,
Otunba Mike Aladenika,
Head, Information, Public Relations & Protocol, AAU, said the decision became necessary to enable the university to complete ongoing renovation works on student structures and facilities, aimed at enhancing the overall teaching and learning experience.

“According to him, the management is committed to providing a conducive environment for academic excellence and believes that this temporary adjustment will ultimately benefit our students.

“While the university management intends to announce a new resumption date, any student(s) still in our hostels are advised to vacate with immediate effect to allow for effective ongoing renovation works

“In light of this development, the university regrets to announce that the 140th Inaugural Lecture, originally scheduled for Thursday, 15th January 2026, and ongoing examinations have been postponed.

“A new date for the lecture and the completion of the examinations will be communicated to all stakeholders in due course.

“The university appreciates the understanding and cooperation of students, parents, and guardians on this matter.

“We urge all students to adhere to the new resumption date and prepare for a productive academic session.

“Parents and guardians are kindly requested to ensure their children/wards are aware of and comply with the revised resumption schedule.”

Metro

Protest Rocks Ekpoma Over Incessant Kidnapping

Published

10 hours ago

January 10, 2026

Editor

Residents of Ekpoma, Esan West Local Government Area of Edo State on Saturday protested against incessant kidnappings in the area.

Ekpoma, in recent times has been under attack by kidnappers who snatched residents from their homes.

The protest grounded commercial activities as students of the Ambrose Alli University, Ekpoma, also joined in the protest.

The protesters, in anger, also pulled down campaign billboards for the 2027 general elections mounted in the university hosting town.

Speaking on the protest, Principal Security Officer to Governor Monday Okpebholo, Austin Eigbiremolen, assured that adequate security would be deployed to Ekpoma.

According to him, the kidnappers would be chased away from the area in no distance time.

Also reacting to the protest, Edo State Police Command Public Relations Officer, Eno Ikoedem, dismissed was top of the security situation in Ekpoma, adding the state Commissioner of Police, Monday Agbonika, was already in Ekpoma.

Ikoedem said nine persons who were kidnapped on Friday were rescued unhurt after the Eagle Combat Drone Unit was deployed to the forest alongside local hunters.

“In the heat of the rescue operation, the kidnappers’ camp was located through real-time aerial intelligence.

“The ground troops stormed the camp, forcing the kidnappers to flee and abandon two locally fabricated AK-49 rifles.

“The victims, including five children were rescued unhurt. This landmark deployment underscores the transformative role of technology in modern policing and sets a new benchmark for operational enhancement in Edo State,” she said.

Metro

Man, 49, Arrested For Allegedly Defiling 13-year-old Girl In Oyo

Published

12 hours ago

January 10, 2026

Editor

Oyo State Police Command has announced the arrest of a 49-year-old man, Peter Adubi, in connection with the alleged defilement of a 13-year-old girl.

The arrest was disclosed in a statement issued on Friday in Ibadan by the Police Public Relations Officer, Olayinka Ayanlade.

According to the statement, the suspect was apprehended after the victim’s guardian reported the incident to the police on January 8, 2026, at about 8:50 p.m.

Ayanlade explained that the guardian became concerned after observing unusual sexual-related behavioural changes in the minor.

Upon gentle questioning, the girl disclosed that she had been sexually abused in 2022 while living with her mother in the Molade area of Ibadan.

He said, “Upon receipt of the report, preliminary investigations revealed that the suspect (Adubi) allegedly committed the offence during that period. This disclosure provided the basis for immediate medical intervention to establish the facts of the case.

“Consequently, the minor was taken to the hospital for a medical examination, which confirmed sexual abuse. This medical evidence strengthened the case against the suspect and guided the next steps in the investigation.

“As a result, the suspect (Adubi) was taken into custody. The crime scene was visited, and the case has since been transferred to the State Criminal Investigation Department, Gender Desk, for a discreet and thorough investigation.”

The Police Command assured residents that justice would be diligently pursued and urged them to remain vigilant, reporting any incidents of sexual abuse promptly, as community cooperation is vital in safeguarding children and ensuring a safer society.