NAPTIP captures two men accused of daughter trafficking in Libya

The Ogun State Command of the National Agency for the Prohibition of Trafficking in Persons (NAPTIP) is investigating two men accused of trafficking their 15-year-old daughters across the Sahara Desert to Libya for child labour.

The state commander, Bose Jimoh, identified the suspects on Thursday as Akinsanya Oladimeji, 55, and Kehinde Rasheed, 45, whose daughters – Adeola and Rokibat Adeyemi – were taken to Libya in 2024 and welcomed there by Afusat Akinsanya, wife of one of the suspects and Adeola’s mother, who had been living in Libya since 2018.

One of the two girls did not survive. Jimoh said Rasheed, a widower, claimed that in February 2025 Afusat called him to inform him that his daughter, Rokibat, had died of illness.

Rasheed allegedly attempted to hide his daughter’s death until continued pressure from his late wife’s family – who demanded to know Rokibat’s whereabouts – forced him to admit what had happened. The aggrieved relatives subsequently reported the matter to the police, who arrested both men and transferred the case to NAPTIP.

“The circumstances surrounding the mysterious death of Kehinde Rasheed’s 15-year-old daughter would be clarified, while efforts are also underway to ensure the safe return and repatriation of the second 15-year-old victim who is still in Libya,” Jimoh said.

He added that investigations were ongoing to ensure both suspects were held accountable.