The National Agency for the Prohibition of Trafficking in Persons has launched an investigation into two men from Ogun State over the alleged trafficking of their teenage daughters to Libya for child labour.
The Ogun State Commander of the agency, Bose Jimoh, disclosed that the suspects, Akinsanya Oladimeji, 55, and Kehinde Rasheed, allegedly trafficked their 15 year old daughters, Adeola and Rokibat Adeyemi, through the desert route to Libya in 2024.
According to the agency, the girls were received in Libya by Afusat Akinsanya, wife of one of the suspects and mother of Adeola, who had reportedly been residing in the country since 2018.
Investigations revealed that Kehinde Rasheed, a widower, later claimed that in February 2025 he was informed by Afusat that his daughter Rokibat had died due to illness while in Libya.
However, authorities allege that Rasheed initially attempted to conceal the circumstances surrounding his daughter’s death. It was gathered that he only admitted to the situation after sustained pressure from members of his late wife’s family, who demanded to know Rokibat’s whereabouts.
The aggrieved relatives subsequently reported the matter to the Nigeria Police Force, leading to the arrest of the two suspects before the case was transferred to NAPTIP for further investigation.
Jimoh stated that the agency is conducting a thorough probe to ensure that those responsible are held accountable. She added that efforts are ongoing to uncover the full details surrounding the death of the 15 year old girl.
The agency also confirmed that steps are being taken to secure the rescue and repatriation of the second victim, Adeola, who is believed to still be in Libya.
Authorities assured that the investigation would address both the trafficking allegations and the circumstances of the reported death, while reaffirming their commitment to protecting vulnerable individuals from exploitation.
