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.
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.
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.
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.
Reacting, the state Coordinator, Gender Based Violence Taskforce, Mrs Faithvin Nwanchor, said they would conduct a thorough investigation into the matter.
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.
