The Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC), Oyo State Command, has arrested a 28-year-old woman, Kemi Kolawole, over her alleged involvement in a human trafficking case involving a 17-year-old girl reportedly taken out of Nigeria for prostitution.
Kolawole, a resident of the Ifeleye area of Ogunpa, Ibadan, and a native of Oyo town, was arrested on Thursday, January 22, 2026, by operatives of the Command’s Anti-Human Trafficking Unit. The arrest followed a complaint lodged on January 20 by the victim’s elder sister, Temilade Olayiwola.
Preliminary investigations revealed that the victim, identified as Ayomide Olayiwola, was allegedly trafficked on November 25, 2025, by the suspect and her husband, Oni Kayode, 32, who is currently at large. The suspects were said to have lured the teenager with promises of a job opportunity abroad before facilitating her movement out of the country.
Findings by the NSCDC indicate that the victim was first taken to Côte d’Ivoire and later moved to Libya, where she was allegedly forced into prostitution. The Command said investigations are ongoing to establish the full details of the operation and to determine whether a wider trafficking network is involved.
The NSCDC further disclosed that the victim was introduced to the alleged traffickers by Rodiat Lawal, an apprentice at Kolawole’s shop in Ifeleye, Ogunpa Market, Ibadan, where the suspect reportedly trades in slippers, shoes and other merchandise. Lawal, said to be a friend of the victim, allegedly linked her to the suspects after the teenager expressed interest in finding employment.
Investigators noted that the victim’s quest for a job made her vulnerable to manipulation, a tactic commonly exploited by traffickers targeting young people in economically disadvantaged communities.
Reaffirming its resolve to combat human trafficking, the Oyo State Command of the NSCDC described the offence as a grave violation of human rights and dignity. The Command assured that the arrested suspect would be thoroughly investigated and prosecuted in accordance with the law.
Kolawole is expected to be charged to court at the conclusion of investigations, while efforts have been intensified to track down and arrest her husband, who is believed to be a key figure in the alleged trafficking operation.
The NSCDC urged residents to remain vigilant and report suspicious activities related to human trafficking, stressing that public cooperation and timely information sharing remain critical in the fight against the crime.
