The Nigeria Police Force has rescued a 21-year-old Nigerian woman, who was allegedly trafficked to Mali and sold for 420,000 CFA francs, equivalent to approximately N770,000, for forced prostitution.

The operation also led to the arrest of three suspected members of an international human trafficking syndicate allegedly involved in recruiting and transporting Nigerian women to foreign countries for sexual exploitation.

The development was disclosed by the Police during a press briefing by ACP Victor Ogbeide Godfrey, who coordinated the operation carried out by operatives of the Special Tactical Squad of the Force Intelligence Department (STS-FID).

According to the Police, the victim, Patience Darius, from Akwanga, Nasarawa State, was lured by Solomon with promises of lucrative employment opportunities abroad.

She was reportedly taken to Lagos on September 26, 2026, before being transported through illegal border routes into the Benin Republic and subsequently moved to gold-mining camps in Mali, where women were allegedly forced into prostitution.

The Police said Solomon confiscated her mobile phone and travel documents before taking her out of Nigeria, thereby cutting off communication with her family and friends.

Upon arrival in Mali, Darius was allegedly handed over to two individuals identified as Mohammed and Marian, also known as Riana, who subsequently sold her for 420,000 CFA francs.

Recounting her ordeal, the victim disclosed that she was severely beaten for refusing to engage in prostitution and was subsequently taken to a shrine, where she was allegedly forced to take a blood oath before being compelled into the trade.

The Police explained that investigations commenced after the victim's sister lodged a complaint, prompting operatives to deploy digital intelligence to track the trafficking network.

Solomon was reportedly arrested after returning to Nigeria to recruit more women for trafficking to Senegal and Mali, while the other two suspects were also apprehended between October 1 and 27, 2026.

The suspects allegedly confessed to their involvement in the criminal operation and provided information that assisted the Police in rescuing the victim from Mali.

In a further revelation, the Police said Darius disclosed that approximately 42 Nigerian women were being held in a makeshift camp within a gold-mining settlement in Mali, where they were subjected to forced prostitution and slave-like conditions.

She alleged that the women were kept under strict surveillance, making escape extremely difficult.

Following her rescue and return to Nigeria, Darius was taken to a police clinic for medical evaluation.

The Force said investigations were ongoing to apprehend other fleeing members of the syndicate and facilitate the rescue of additional Nigerian women believed to be trapped in the trafficking network.