The police are on the trail of a notorious facilitator of human trafficking between Nigerian and other West African countries. Simply identified by his cohort as Osas, the man is now running away from the law. According to police report, he allegedly conspired with one Blessing Obi to deceive young women into believing that they would travel to South Africa en route Gambia.

Unknown to these women, they would be handed over to a man in Gambia while Osas returns to Nigeria. However, nemesis caught up with them when two of the young girls came back and blew their secret open. Blessing has been arrested while Osas remains at large. The police hope to trace other women who are trapped in Gambia with the aid of Blessing.

Prostitution agent
Saturday Sun reliably learnt that two of Osas’ numerous victims, Brenda and Tessy, all from Akwa Ibom State have revealed that Osas and Blessing act as visa agents who help people procure visa to South Africa. The two victims said Osas and co. had promised to easily procure them visas to the Gambia.

They were also told that Osas would take them to Gambia and ensure that they get visas to South Africa or wherever they choose to go from there. Convinced of the plans, Brenda paid N100,000 while Tessy paid N90,000. Having bade their families farewell, they traveled to Gambia. When they got to Gambia, Saturday Sun learnt that these young women were handed over to a Gambian.

They were received in a hotel where they met other women who had been there before them. Unknown to them, Osas returned to Nigeria after the handover in Gambia. The next day the Gambian asked them to start work. When they inquired on the nature of the work and why they should stay in Gambia instead of South Africa as earlier agreed to, the man revealed to them that they were actually there to work as prostitutes.

Not satisfied with such arrangement, Tessy and Brenda ran to a church where the pastor assisted them to return to Nigeria. It was based on their report that the police arrested Blessing at their office at No 56 Bolaji Street, Okota, Lagos. She was at the time arranging to freight another batch of women to the Gambia as well. The case is being handled at the (NAPTIP) National Agency Population and Trafficking in Persons.

According to Brenda, many Nigerian women are still trapped in Gambia through the same ring run by Osas and Blessing.