Peace Agbede and Two Others Arrested in Upper East for Human Trafficking and Attempted Baby Sale

Yesterday•2 min read•7 sources

The Upper East Regional Police Command has dismantled a human trafficking syndicate operating in the Talensi District, arresting three Nigerian nationals for the exploitation of young women. The suspects, identified as Peace Agbede, Favour Sunday Udo, and Faith Levy, were apprehended during a targeted police operation in Gbane. They are accused of luring victims from Nigeria under false pretenses, only to subject them to forced prostitution and financial extortion upon their arrival in Ghana.

Investigations revealed a sophisticated pattern of deception where the lead suspect, Peace Agbede, reportedly promised one victim a career in the Ghanaian film industry. Once in Ghana, the victim was relocated to Gbane-Tongo and coerced into sex work at local mining sites. The syndicate allegedly demanded a daily payment of GH‥400 from her. During a search of Agbede’s residence, police recovered 265 condoms and six record books used to track the financial proceeds of the illicit activities. The operation also resulted in the successful rescue of four additional female victims, aged between 18 and 20.

In a particularly harrowing development, the police uncovered an attempted baby sale involving one of the victims who had given birth on June 26. The suspects reportedly pressured the new mother to sell her infant for GH‥20,000. This discovery has added charges of attempted child trafficking to the existing counts of human trafficking and forced prostitution. The rescued women are currently being provided with support as the police continue to investigate the broader network and potential accomplices involved in this cross-border criminal ring.

This enforcement action coincides with a broader judicial crackdown on human trafficking in Ghana. In a related case, a 43-year-old Nigerian woman, Eugenia Ifeoma, was recently sentenced to five years in prison for trafficking two teenagers into the country through unapproved routes. These developments highlight the growing challenges of regional trafficking and the intensifying efforts of the Ghana Police Service and the Ghana Immigration Service to protect vulnerable individuals from exploitation.

The suspects in the Upper East case remain in police custody and are expected to be arraigned before a court shortly. Authorities have urged the public to remain vigilant against recruitment schemes that promise quick success in the entertainment or service sectors, which are frequently used as fronts for trafficking operations. Law enforcement officials emphasized that they will continue to pursue all leads to ensure that the perpetrators face the full rigors of the law.

This story touches markets covered on Anansi Intelligence ↗.

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Peace Agbede and Two Others Arrested in Upper East for Human Trafficking and Attempted Baby Sale

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