The Edo State Migration Agency has successfully rescued three indigenes of the state who were trafficked to Burkina Faso and subjected to forced prostitution and abuse. According to reports, the victims, including a young woman who lost her sight due to severe mistreatment, have been repatriated to Nigeria.
Rescue Operation Details
The Director-General of the agency, Lucky Agazuma, briefed journalists at the Benin Airport on Tuesday, April 27, 2026, upon the victims' arrival. He described the event as both a happy and a sad day, given the ordeal the victims endured. The rescue operation was initiated after Nigeria's Ambassador to Burkina Faso, Muhammad Danladi, alerted the Edo State Government about the stranded indigenes. Governor Monday Okpebholo was informed and promptly ordered an intervention.
Victims' Stories
Agazuma explained that one of the victims, a man named Evans, was deceived into traveling to Burkina Faso in January 2026. Upon arrival, he was imprisoned and remained in captivity until the agency secured his release. Two young women, Precious and Peace, were also trafficked under false promises of employment. Instead, they were forced into prostitution. When they refused to comply, they were brutally beaten and subjected to inhuman treatment.
The most severe case involved one of the women who lost her sight due to the abuse. Agazuma stated, “The second victim was maltreated to the point where she lost her sight before the governor quickly directed that we rescue them back to Edo. As we speak, she will be taken straight to the hospital on the governor’s directive to see what can be done about her condition.”
Appeal for Information
Efforts to trace the family of the visually impaired victim, who reportedly lived in the Uselu area of Edo State before traveling, have so far been unsuccessful. The agency is appealing to the public for any information that could help locate her relatives. Agazuma said, “We have tried to trace her family members in Uselu but to no avail. We are appealing to members of the public who have any information to make it available to the agency. We are applying our rehabilitation model to ensure full recovery and reintegration.”
Ongoing Investigations
The agency has obtained intelligence on the trafficking network and has already apprehended one suspect. Investigations are ongoing to dismantle the network and prevent future incidents. The rescued victims, identified as Precious, Peace, and Evans, are currently receiving care and support from the state government.
