The police in the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus (TRNC) has apprehended four Nigerians who allegedly operated a prostitution ring in the country.
It was learnt that a police officer, Vasvi Özbey reported the facts in a sworn testimony in court on Wednesday.
The police identified the suspects as Sharon Blessing Chibuike, 38, Promise Ben David, 27, Chinedu Emmanuel Ibekweo, 19, and Esther Montse, 29.
They will be charged for Forced Detention with Intent Prostitution, Encouragement of Prostitution, Prostitution and Intentional Sexual Sex Detention.
The police acted on a complaint filed by “OA” at the Nicosia Judicial Branch on January 23.
NIGERIACRIME gathered that the syndicate brought OA from Nigeria to enrol as a student in Turkey and was made to live with Chibuike in Nicosia, capital of Cyprus.
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The suspects allegedly withheld the passport of the 28-year-old, forcing her to have sex with men in exchange for money.
A search warrant was obtained from the Nicosia District Court, but no one could be identified at the address.
On January 24, the police obtained a court order to take in the suspects for prosecution.
Two notebooks found at the address now form part of the evidence. The suspects say they are not guilty.
Judge Nil Elodie Çeliker ordered their remand in police custody as investigation continues.
Earlier, the Nigerians in Diaspora Commission (NiDCOM) cautioned Nigerian students against going to Northern Cyprus because a lot of students had been killed there.
Its chairperson, Abike Dabiri-Erewa, had in a ministerial briefing organised by the Presidential Communications Team appealed to Nigerian students from going there to study or do business.
“There have been a lot of problems in Northern Cyprus; we have youths come to tell us, please tell everybody to stop going to Northern Cyprus.
“We did that sometime ago and we were challenged at what rights we had to tell people not to go to Northern Cyprus.
“I say it again; if you have to go to Northern Cyprus, think twice about it; no fewer than 20 students have been killed over the years and nothing has happened to the assailants.