The Ghana Police authorities said they rescued a 15-year-old Nigerian girl who was trafficked from Enugu under the pretext of offering her a cleaning job but was forced into prostitution.
This is just as the police said they arrested one suspect in connection with the incident, while the prime suspect has been on the run, reports The PUNCH.
It was learnt in a statement by the Head, Public Affairs Unit of the Western Central Regional Police, Beatrice Turkson, yesterday, that the rescue followed a report by the victim’s father that his daughter had gone missing in Nigeria.
The statement noted that following the report, police operatives arrested one Joy Ogbonna, who allegedly confined the victim in a room, forced her into prostitution, and collected proceeds from the illegal act.
Turkson also noted that a medical examination of the victim revealed that she was pregnant at the time of rescue.
The statement read, “On Monday, November 3, 2025, police arrested 25-year-old Joy Ogbonna, at Aboso near Tarkwa, following a report by the victim’s father, Ogbonna Onuigbo, who said his daughter went missing in October 2025, in Nigeria. The victim later called him on October 24, 2025, revealing that she had been trafficked and abused in Ghana.
“Police investigations indicated that one Golden Blessing, who is currently on the run, lured the victim from Enugu to Lagos under the pretext of offering her a cleaning job and later handed her over to Joy Ogbonna, who transported her to Tarkwa.
“Upon arrival, the suspect confined the victim in a room, forced her into sex work, and collected the proceeds. Through the intervention of a helpful passer-by, the victim was able to contact her father, leading to her rescue. A medical report confirmed that the victim was five weeks pregnant.”
She noted that efforts were ongoing to arrest the fleeing suspect while stressing the police’s commitment to combating human trafficking.
“The suspect, Joy Ogbonna, is currently in police custody and will be arraigned before the court soon. Efforts are ongoing to arrest her accomplice, Golden Blessing, who is believed to be in Nigeria.
“The Western Central Regional Police Command commends the public for their support and timely intervention and reaffirms its commitment to fighting human trafficking and protecting vulnerable persons from all forms of exploitation,” the statement concluded.
This is not the first time suspected human traffickers operating in Nigeria have been fingered in cross-border trafficking.
It was earlier reported on August 14 that the Enugu State Police Command arrested a 30-year-old man, Raymond Wonna, for alleged involvement in transnational human trafficking and rescued two victims.
The victims, identified as Miracle Ogar (18) and Angela Kingsley (16), are both from Cross River State, the command’s spokesperson, SP Daniel Ndukwe, revealed in a statement.
Similarly, it was reported on August 15 that the Lagos State Police Command dismantled a notorious trans-border child trafficking syndicate, rescuing eleven victims and arresting four suspects allegedly involved in recruiting and transporting young Nigerians to Ghana for prostitution.
