Police Dismantle Lagos Prostitution Ring, Rescue 12 Trafficked Teenagers

Police in Lagos State have rescued 12 teenage girls who were allegedly trafficked and forced into prostitution from apartments in the busy Idumota market area of Lagos Island.

The operation, led by Commissioner of Police Tijani Fatai, led to the arrest of 28-year-old Princess Andrew. She is accused of luring girls, aged 13 to 15, into commercial sex work with false promises of legitimate jobs.

According to authorities, the suspect allegedly recruited the girls from various states outside Lagos, promising them employment opportunities. However, upon their arrival in the city, they were reportedly forced into prostitution.

The syndicate was exposed after a 16-year-old victim managed to escape and reported her ordeal to the police on June 11, 2026.

Commissioner Fatai explained that the breakthrough came after a concerned citizen brought the teenager to the police station in Bode Thomas, Surulere.

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“We busted the prostitution syndicate following a report about a girl who was brought to our station in Bode Thomas,” he said. “A good samaritan found her lying in a pool of blood, with blood gushing from her nose. At the station, she recounted how a woman brought her from Delta State to Lagos with the promise of a catering job.”

Fatai continued, “However, upon arrival, the woman allegedly introduced her to prostitution and told her she would have to serve for six months to earn her freedom. The victim stated she had sexual relations with about 30 men during her ordeal. She sustained injuries and was beaten and thrown out when she refused to see customers one day. She wandered from Lagos Island to Surulere before she was rescued.”

When asked about the number and ages of the rescued girls, the Commissioner confirmed, “The victims are between 13 and 15 years old. The girl informed us that about 30 girls were involved, but we currently have 12 in our custody.”

He added, “The Divisional Police Officer of Bode Thomas took her to the hospital for treatment. The suspect has allegedly been operating in the area for a long time. This has been her business, but her luck ran out because we decided to investigate. Investigations are ongoing and will lead to the prosecution of the principal suspect.”

A Victim’s Harrowing Account

The 16-year-old victim, Chinasa (surname withheld), from Imo State, shared her experience. “I was learning to be a baker in Delta State after leaving Imo. The woman who brought me to Lagos said she had a job for me where I would earn N100,000 monthly and asked me to bring a friend,” she said.

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“I only realised it was prostitution when she asked me to remove my clothes. She gave me a pair of pants and a singlet and told me to lure any man who entered the room. When I couldn’t do it, she allegedly gave me a drug that turns the tongue blue. After taking it, I lost consciousness and later found myself taking men into the room.”

“When I told her I was tired and wanted to go back to Delta State, she said I had to work longer to repay my transportation fare. She beat me so badly that I could barely see for a week,” Chinasa recounted.

She described the conditions, stating, “I attended to men from 4:00 p.m. until 5:00 a.m. She rarely gave me money for food, paying me only between N1,000 and N1,500 while keeping the rest to care for her children. I charged between N3,000 and N10,000. Sometimes, four men would sleep with me at the same time, and I received no medical treatment.”

Chinasa added, “Some of the men did not use protection, but I couldn’t complain because my madam would beat me if they reported me. Most of the men were traders in the market. I spent four months with her. There were seven girls working directly under her. Later, she transferred me to her sister, known as Sugar, who continued the maltreatment.”

The Escape

Detailing her escape, the young mother said, “A customer requested my services overnight and brought another man. When I returned, my madam started beating me. I ran away and boarded a vehicle to Costain. A man noticed my condition and asked what had happened. While we were under the bridge, a woman approached me, asked what happened, and took me to the police station. The DPO immediately took me to the hospital.”

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In response to the allegations, the suspected trafficker, Princess Andrew, denied being the ringleader. “I am also a prostitute there,” she claimed. “I knew the girl in Delta State when she was pregnant. She contacted me after returning from Ghana. I introduced her to another woman who operated a different room. They had a disagreement, and she was beaten.”

A suspect in a recent case has denied allegations of deception, stating, “I intervened on her behalf. I did not collect any money from her. I never told her she was coming for a catering job; she knew she was coming for prostitution.”

When questioned about her own involvement and earnings, the woman disclosed details of the operation. “I began working there as a prostitute in February 2026 and pay N10,000 daily to the owner of the premises,” she explained.

She further revealed her income, noting, “On some days, I make about N30,000. I charge between N5,000 and N10,000 per client, while overnight services range from N20,000 to N30,000.”