The Bauchi State Police Command has arrested two suspects over an alleged human trafficking ring that reportedly targeted young women with false promises of opportunities abroad.

Police identified the suspects as Gloria Joseph and her alleged accomplice, Light Mandis. They are accused of conspiring to lure a 20-year-old woman, Ebere Wilson, and her friend, Mercy, from Bauchi to Ghana for prostitution.

According to a statement by the Police Public Relations Officer, SP Nafiu Abubakar, the case originated from a complaint lodged at the E Divisional Police Headquarters in Bauchi. Wilson, who lives in the Wuntin Dada area of the state capital, reported that she was physically assaulted and had her mobile phone, a blue Tecno Spark 4, seized by Joseph.

Police investigators later uncovered what they described as a broader criminal scheme. The command said preliminary findings indicated that Joseph and Mandis allegedly targeted the young women with deceptive offers, intending to traffic them across borders and force them into sex work.

The case, which is being treated as criminal conspiracy, human trafficking, assault, extortion and defamation, has been transferred to the State Criminal Investigation Department for deeper investigation. The Commissioner of Police, Sani-Omolori Aliyu, has directed that the suspects be charged to court once investigators conclude their work.

Human trafficking remains a persistent problem in Bauchi and across northern Nigeria, where traffickers frequently prey on women and youths facing economic hardship. Authorities and rights groups say victims are often enticed with promises of jobs, education or a better life in cities or abroad, only to find themselves trapped in forced labour or sexual exploitation.

Data from the National Agency for the Prohibition of Trafficking in Persons indicate that Bauchi has recorded dozens of trafficking cases in the past year alone, underscoring the scale of the challenge. The agency has reported both internal trafficking within Nigeria and cross-border movements to other West African countries and beyond.

Law enforcement agencies and anti-trafficking advocates in the state have been pushing for stronger community awareness, warning families to be wary of unsolicited travel offers and unverified recruitment agents. They argue that early reporting of suspicious movements and aggressive prosecution of traffickers are critical to dismantling the networks that profit from exploiting vulnerable people.