Police in Enugu State say they have rescued two sex workers who were found bound with ropes in a hotel room toilet.
A viral video showed the women bound and helpless, with claims that they were being targeted for organ harvesting by two men.
However, authorities have refuted this narrative, stating that initial investigations indicate that the incident was a case of extortion and fraud, with the suspects demanding money from the victims through threats and coercion.
In a statement issued on Monday by the command’s spokesperson, DSP Daniel Ndukwe, the Police cautioned young ladies against going out with unknown persons, particularly males, under any guise to avoid falling prey to similar criminals and their activities.
Titled: Enugu police unravels actual circumstances of the viral video alleging an attempt to harvest the organs of two young ladies in Enugu Hotel, the command said its investigation had shown that the victims made out with the young men on July 3, 2024, in a hotel (names withheld) along Agbani Road, Enugu.
However, they had another appointment the following day and met the suspects in the hotel where the incident occurred.
The statement reads: “The Command, therefore, wishes to state that, contrary to the misleading narrative on the incident, preliminary investigation revealed a case of demanding money with menaces and fraud, and not murder or human organs or parts harvesting as being peddled.
“Further revealed is that the ladies, operating as commercial sex workers, made out with the young men on July 3, 2024, in a hotel (names withheld) along Agbani Road, Enugu. They had another appointment the following day and met the suspects in the hotel where the incident occurred.
“At the hotel, the suspects beat and tied up the girls in the hotel’s room toilet after menacingly demanding and obtaining their phones and account details, including their Personal Identification Numbers (PINs).
“They surreptitiously found their way out of the hotel before the victims were rescued, as seen in the video. They further fraudulently withdrew a cumulative sum of ₦120,000 from the victims’ accounts.”
Ndukwe, however, noted that a bag containing two kitchen knives and sportswear the suspects left behind had been recovered, adding that an intelligence-guided investigation had been launched to fish out and bring the fleeing suspects to book.
“Consequently, owners and managers of hotels have been advised to exercise the highest standards of security alertness and ensure that lodgers are properly screened, and their verifiable details obtained before being accommodated.
“Moreover, young ladies have been cautioned against going out with unknown persons, particularly males, under any guise to avoid falling prey to similar criminals and their activities.”
