Nov. 20, 2025
The Police Command in Ebonyi says it has arrested one Mr. Chukwudi Nwite popularly known as “Igbaoto” for alleged human trafficking.
SP Joshua Ukandu, the Spokesman of the command, confirmed the incident to the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) 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 that the incident happened sometime in Oct. 10 and that investigation was ongoing.
NAN reports that 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 got missing.
“Upon enquiry, it was discovered that Nwite, camouflaged as a commercial motorcycle rider, picked my daughter with her luggage at Onunworie Ohaffia in Ukawu to Ugwulangwu in Ohaozara LGA where she allegedly boarded a bus for the journey,” he said.
Agu further said that he reported the matter to his community where evidence about an alleged unholy business involving his daughter and another female member of the trafficking syndicate identified as Lady Maduabuchi Ugbala was revealed.
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 smart phone and sent same to Ugbala.
“After arrangement with Nwite, my friend came to me and requested that I follow her to Amudo, a neighbouring community where we would be enrolled into a tailoring apprenticeship.
“I accepted and asked that my parents should be told about the plan
“When she refused to involve my parents, I lost interest in the tailoring apprenticeship,” she said.
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.
He said that Nwite was later apprehended.
Okorofor said that upon interrogation by the villagers on Nov. 10, Nwite admitted to having aided the victim’s trip to Libya by taking her to Ugwulangwu motor park where she took off.
“Nwite admitted to have facilitated the victims trip and also provided the villagers with a phone number of his partner in the illegal business,” Okorofor alleged.
The community leader who said that the incident was beyond the community later said he had to involve the Abaomege police in the area.
He said that the matter was later taken to the command’s Headquarters in Abakaliki for further investigation.
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 contact the alleged syndicate Ugbala.
“I don’t know the victim before until sometime ago when she approached me and disclosed her intention to travel outside the country.
“I did not play another role pertaining to her journey to Libya, apart from connecting her to Ugbala and conveying her to the motor park,” he said.
Reacting, the state Coordinator, Gender Based Violence Taskforce, Mrs. Faithvin Nwanchor, said they would conduct a thorough investigation into the matter.
“It is a case of human trafficking and investigation is ongoing. We hope for a just result,” Nwanchor said.
The State Coordinator, Civil Society Network on Migration and Development, Mrs Goodness Mbajah said the level of investigation so far indicated that justice would be obtained.
“From what we have seen so far, there are elements of trafficking and exploitation.
“This is because, once there is deceit and enticement irrespective of one’s age, trafficking has been established.
“Thus, we are here to see that due process is followed,” Mbajah said.
The Council Boss, Ogboffia when contacted, said Nwite should be made to face the consequences, if found culpable.
“Chukwudi Nwite is among the six appointees sworn-in as SAs on internal security to maintain law and order in communities in the local government area,” Ogboffia said.(NAN)
