The Ziguinchor regional branch of the National Division for Combating Migrant Smuggling and Related Practices (DNLT) has referred three Nigerian nationals to the Public Prosecutor at the High Court of Ziguinchor for criminal association, human trafficking, attempted sexual exploitation, pimping and extortion.

It all began with an anonymous tip alleging human trafficking for sexual exploitation. According to the source, in December 2025, a Nigerian woman, Glory Ebangwu, also known as "Gift," allegedly recruited and transported a young Nigerian woman, Ushahemba Mercy, also known as "Mercy," to Senegal for sexual exploitation. The victim was reportedly housed in a furnished apartment in the Goumel neighborhood, designated for this purpose.

Given the seriousness of the events, an investigation was immediately opened.

Summoned and questioned, Ushahemba Mercy unambiguously confirmed the facts. She stated that she was residing in Nigeria where she was engaged in a clothing sales business, when a regular customer, introducing herself as "Madame Clothes", offered her a legal and better-paid job opportunity in Senegal, through her sister Glory, who lived in Ziguinchor.

Faced with financial difficulties, she accepted. Glory Ebangwu then sent her 130,000 CFA francs to cover her land transport costs to Senegal, according to Seneweb sources.

Upon her arrival, the reality was quite different. She was immediately forced into prostitution, presented as an obligation in exchange for the costs incurred for her transportation and accommodation. A fictitious debt of 3,000,000 CFA francs was imposed on her, along with a weekly payment of 50,000 CFA francs directly collected by her.

Before rebelling, the victim had already paid a total of 400,000 CFA francs. Her refusal to continue payments provoked a heated argument, after which she hastily left the house, believing her safety was threatened.

The confessions and the discovery of the network

When questioned, Glory Ebangwu initially admitted to inviting the victim to Senegal, while denying the debt of 3 million CFA francs, claiming that she only demanded reimbursement of transport costs of 130,000 CFA francs.

But the use of his mobile phone proved decisive.

WhatsApp audio recordings revealed heated exchanges in which the victim disputed the 3 million CFA franc debt and threatened to go to the police. Confronted with this evidence, the recruiter recanted her statements and admitted to having demanded the sum.

She also admitted not acting alone, revealing the existence of a structured network involving "Madame Clothes," based in Nigeria and responsible for identifying victims, as well as her two accomplices arrested in the same locations: Blessing Iveren Chiahemba alias "Sugar" and Blessing Pleasure alias "Annabelle."

All three collaborated in recruiting young women in Nigeria, transporting them to Senegal and sexually exploiting them under the guise of a financial debt.

When questioned in turn, "Sugar" and "Annabelle" unanimously confirmed the facts as described by the main recruiter.

The three accused were brought before the Public Prosecutor at the High Court of Ziguinchor.