The Bauchi State Police Command has arrested two suspects in connection with alleged human trafficking and related offences in the state.
In a statement issued on Friday, the Police Public Relations Officer, Nafiu Abubakar, said the E Divisional Police Headquarters was investigating a case involving criminal conspiracy, human trafficking, assault, extortion and defamation.
According to the statement, a 20-year-old resident of Wuntin Dada, Ebere Wilson, reported that she was assaulted and had her mobile phone, a blue Tecno Spark 4, confiscated by one Gloria Joseph on February 11, 2026.
Police investigations allegedly revealed that Joseph conspired with another suspect, Light Mandis, to lure Wilson and her friend, Mercy, to Ghana under the pretext of securing opportunities for them, with the intention of forcing them into prostitution.
The command said the matter has been transferred to the State Criminal Investigation Department for further investigation. The Commissioner of Police, Sani-Omolori Aliyu, has directed that the suspects be charged to court upon the conclusion of investigations.
Human trafficking remains a major concern in Bauchi State and across Nigeria. The National Agency for the Prohibition of Trafficking in Persons (NAPTIP) has continued to record cases involving both internal trafficking and cross-border exploitation.
The agency has warned that traffickers often exploit poverty and make false promises of employment to lure victims, particularly women and young people. In the past year, NAPTIP recorded at least 37 human trafficking cases in Bauchi State, underscoring the scale of the problem.
Authorities say efforts are ongoing to secure convictions against traffickers while intensifying public awareness campaigns to educate communities on the dangers of human trafficking.
