Three suspects, one Lebanese and two Nigerians have been arrested by the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) in Kwara for alleged human trafficking.
The three suspects are Wasit Muhammad; Olatunji Sanusi, a lawyer and Tunde.
A statement on Friday by NSCDC spokesman, Ayeni Olasunkanmi, said the suspects were arrested in Ilorin on January 7 “for specialising in trafficking young girls to Lebanon for purposes of child labour and other related abuses.”
Mr Olasunkanmi said the arrest was made possible through a coordinated intelligence, provided by the Kwara State Command of the NSCDC, following a tip-off.
He added that, the state commandant, Bello Ale, ordered a thorough investigation into the matter to apprehend other syndicates.
He said that all those involved in the act would be handed over to the relevant agencies for prosecution.
The suspects were arrested after video footage of their victim, Ajayi Omolola, went public.
Omolola, whose parents live in Ilorin, was tricked into travelling to Lebanon in the guise of engaging her as an English tutor.
Kwara State Governor, Abdulrahman Abdulrasaq, in a statement condemned the rising trend of human trafficking in the country and vowed to deal with anyone caught in the state according to the law.
The case is soon to be handed over to the National Agency for the Prohibition of Trafficking in Persons (NAPTIP), Press Secretary to Kwara state Governor AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq, Rafiu Ajakaye has said.
