Trafficked Ivory Coast returnee to Nigeria loses womb to traffickers
Delta Police Arrest Two in Disturbing Trafficking Case
ASABA, Delta State — Commissioner of Police Yemi Oyeniyi announced the arrest of two alleged traffickers involved in a case where a victim’s womb was reportedly removed without her consent.
During a quarterly briefing on Tuesday, Oyeniyi detailed the circumstances surrounding the case, which emerged from a complaint lodged by a mother from the Ekpan community in Uvwie. The woman reported that her 19-year-old daughter, who had been living with her father in Okpaka, appeared unwell after visiting her.
The young woman recounted to her mother that in September 2025, she and two friends were introduced to a 47-year-old woman named Blessing Mongo. Mongo connected them with Esther, 32, and another woman named Onome, 36, under the pretense of trafficking them to Ivory Coast for prostitution.
According to the victim’s account, shortly after arriving in Ivory Coast, she was administered an unknown substance and taken to a hospital. Upon waking, she discovered her abdomen was bandaged. Mong and Esther later returned her to Nigeria, abandoning her in Lagos. The victim managed to return to Delta State, where her mother subsequently filed a report with the police.
Following the complaint, Delta police apprehended Mongo and Esther for further investigation. Oyeniyi remarked that a medical examination revealed the victim had undergone a non-consensual surgical procedure.
In a separate matter, Oyeniyi addressed ongoing accusations against the police regarding their involvement in land disputes. He emphasized that the police would no longer engage in such civil matters, citing concerns about officers being misused by land grabbers to intimidate opponents.
“We will not tolerate any illegal interventions,” Oyeniyi stated, urging individuals involved in land disputes to seek legal resolution through the courts rather than resorting to violence. He reiterated the police’s constitutional duty to protect life and property while maintaining law and order.
