The Edo State Taskforce on Human Trafficking has apprehended 42-year-old Juliet Ukhurebor for alleged human trafficking. She was arrested at her shrine in Benin City, where officials recovered a native pot containing concoctions as evidence.
At a press briefing in Benin City, Mrs. Pauline Irusota, Secretary of the taskforce, revealed that Ukhurebor was detained alongside Joy Osawe following a petition by 25-year-old Rita Godwin. Godwin accused Ukhurebor and her daughter in India of forging Ghanaian passports and other documents to smuggle victims to India. Ukhurebor had successfully trafficked a girl named Juliet Osagie to India.
Irusota stated that Ukhurebor disclosed the true purpose of the trip—prostitution—only after making the victims take an oath. Godwin, upon learning this, refused to continue the journey to Abuja en route to India.
“After Godwin declined to travel to India, Ukhurebor and a native doctor from Enugu State began threatening her, demanding N8 million to cover the expenses of her travel documents,” Irusota said. The prime suspect was arrested at her shrine, and a native pot containing concoctions was recovered as an exhibit at the request of investigators.
In an interview, Ukhurebor admitted to making her victims swear an oath before traveling to prevent them from disobeying instructions. She claimed the oath-taking was meant to intimidate the victims into compliance while with her daughter in India.
“I acted on my India-based daughter’s instructions to administer an oath on the victims to ensure they wouldn’t abscond or refuse to repay her for the travel expenses,” Ukhurebor explained. She noted that her daughter needed assurances due to the significant costs involved in preparing the travel documents for the would-be nannies.