From Taiye Joseph, Ilorin
The Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC), Kwara State Command, has arrested a 22-year-old man, Victor Barry, over the alleged trafficking of a 17-year-old girl from Amoyo to Mali under the guise of securing employment for her in Senegal.
The command also arrested a 56-year-old suspected quack doctor, Bello Maruf, for allegedly operating an unauthorised medical facility and performing abortions without recognised medical qualifications or a valid licence.
The two arrests were made during separate operations as the corps intensified efforts to combat human trafficking and other criminal activities in the state.
According to a statement issued by the command’s spokesperson, ASC I Ayoola Shola, the girl’s mother reported the alleged trafficking case to the NSCDC Amoyo Division on October 9, 2026, before it was transferred to the state headquarters in Ilorin.
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Preliminary investigations revealed that Barry allegedly met the teenager at his shop on October 5, when she visited to buy noodles, and subsequently offered to arrange overseas employment for her in Senegal.
The suspect reportedly took the girl to Lagos on October 7 and handed her over to an unidentified individual at Mile 2 for onward transportation abroad.
The NSCDC said the suspect later informed its operatives that the girl had arrived in Mali on October 12, adding that he alleged an agent identified as Joy diverted her to Mali instead of Senegal, contrary to the initial arrangement.
The command said the suspect’s parents had pledged to cooperate with efforts to facilitate the girl’s return to Nigeria within two weeks.
It added that investigations were ongoing to establish the full circumstances surrounding the incident and secure the teenager’s safe return.
In a separate operation on October 13, NSCDC operatives, acting on intelligence, arrested Maruf for allegedly carrying out medical procedures, including abortions, without the required professional qualifications and authorisation.
During preliminary investigations, the suspect reportedly admitted to performing multiple abortions but failed to provide certificates or a valid licence authorising him to practise medicine.
Medical instruments suspected to have been used for the procedures were also recovered during the operation.
The command said the suspect would be charged before a court of competent jurisdiction upon the conclusion of investigations.
The State Commandant, Abbas Mohammed, reaffirmed the corps’ commitment to protecting vulnerable persons, safeguarding lives and ensuring that suspects were brought to justice in accordance with the law.
He urged parents and guardians to exercise caution over overseas employment offers made to young people, particularly where the arrangements involve unfamiliar individuals or questionable recruitment processes.
The commandant also called on residents to promptly report suspected cases of human trafficking, illegal medical practice and other criminal activities to the nearest NSCDC office.
The command assured residents of its continued commitment to public safety, stressing the importance of credible and timely information from members of the public in supporting its operations.
