Abakaliki: The Ebonyi State Police Command has arrested Chukwudi Nwite, a Special Assistant on Internal Security to the Onicha Local Government Chairman, for allegedly facilitating the trafficking of a 16‑year‑old girl to Libya.
SP Joshua Ukandu, the Spokesman of the command, confirmed the incident to reporters on Thursday in Abakaliki.
He said Nwite, a Special Assistant (SA) on Internal Security to Mr Ikechukwu Ogboffia, Chairman of Onicha Local Government Area of the state, allegedly facilitated the exploitative movement of a 16-year-old girl to Libya.
Ukandu said the incident occurred sometime on October 10 and that the investigation was ongoing.
The victim’s father, Mr Johnson Agu, while narrating the incident, alleged that Nwite visited his home at Ohoaffia Amoffia village, Ukawu community in the area, after which his daughter allegedly went missing.
“Upon enquiry, it was discovered that Nwite, camouflaged as a commercial motorcycle rider, picked my daughter up with her luggage at Onunworie Ohaffia in Ukawu to Ugwulangwu in Ohaozara LGA, where she allegedly boarded a bus for the journey,” he said.
Agu further said that he reported the matter to his community, where evidence about an alleged unholy business involving his daughter and another female member of the trafficking syndicate identified as Lady Maduabuchi Ugbala was revealed.
Commenting, the victim’s friend, a 15-year-old girl (names withheld), alleged that the suspect had wanted to traffic her alongside the victim but that she declined.
Agbafor also alleged that the accused person had taken pictures of her and the victim with his smartphone and sent the same to Ugbala.
“After arranging with Nwite, my friend came to me and requested that I follow her to Amudo, a neighbouring community, where we would be enrolled into a tailoring apprenticeship.
“I accepted and asked that my parents be told about the plan
“When she refused to involve my parents, I lost interest in the tailoring apprenticeship,” she said.
Mr Clement Okorofor, the Village Head of Ohoaffia Amoffia Ukawu, corroborated that the accused person was seen taking pictures of the victim and her friend in the area.
He said that Nwite was later apprehended.
Okorofor said that upon interrogation by the villagers on Nov. 10, Nwite admitted to having aided the victim’s trip to Libya by taking her to Ugwulangwu motor park, where she took off.
“Nwite admitted to having facilitated the victim’s trip and also provided the villagers with a phone number of his partner in the illegal business,” Okorofor alleged.
The community leader who said that the incident was beyond the community later said he had to involve the Abaomege police in the area.
He said that the matter was later taken to the command’s Headquarters in Abakaliki for further investigation.
Nwite, upon further interrogation, denied being a human trafficker but claimed he only assisted the victim and another girl with a phone to enable them to contact the alleged syndicate Ugbala.
“I didn’t know the victim before, until sometime ago when she approached me and disclosed her intention to travel outside the country.
“I did not play another role in her journey to Libya, apart from connecting her to Ugbala and conveying her to the motor park,” he said.
Reacting, the state Coordinator, Gender Based Violence Taskforce, Mrs Faithvin Nwanchor, said they would conduct a thorough investigation into the matter.
“It is a case of human trafficking, and the investigation is ongoing. We hope for a just result,” Nwanchor said.
The State Coordinator of the Civil Society Network on Migration and Development, Mrs Goodness Mbajah, said the level of investigation so far indicated that justice would be served.
“From what we have seen so far, there are elements of trafficking and exploitation.
“This is because, once there is deceit and enticement, irrespective of one’s age, trafficking has been established.
“Thus, we are here to see that due process is followed,” Mbajah said.
The Council Boss, Ogboffia, when contacted, said Nwite should face the consequences if found culpable.
“I received a call last week that he was apprehended for alleged human trafficking. If he is found guilty, let him face the consequences.
“Chukwudi Nwite is among the six appointees sworn in as SAs on internal security to maintain law and order in communities in the local government area,” Ogboffia said.