The police in the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus (TRNC) has arrested some Nigerians operating a prostitution ring in the country.
The Nigerians are 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.
A Police officer, Vasvi Özbey reported the facts in a sworn testimony in court on Wednesday.
Blessing Chibuike lives in Nicosia, capital of Cyprus, with OA whom they had brought from Nigeria to enroll as a student in Turkey.
The suspects 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.
Recall that the Nigerians in Diaspora Commission (NiDCOM) has cautioned Nigerian students against going to Northern Cyprus.
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.
She said Northern Cyprus was not recognized by the UN, adding that a lot of students had been killed there.
“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.