ABUJA — The dark underbelly of transnational human trafficking has claimed another young life, throwing a Benue State community into profound mourning following the death of a victim identified only as Sewuese.
Sewuese passed away on Friday, July 24, 2026, back home in Benue State, after being rushed home critically ill from Cotonou, Benin Republic, where she had been forced into prostitution.
Human rights activist and anti-trafficking campaigner Zege Orkwande, who has been at the forefront of rescuing vulnerable girls trapped in neighboring West African nations, confirmed the development. Orkwande vowed that the perpetrators responsible for her exploitation and ultimate demise would face the full weight of the law.
Addressing public inquiries regarding those responsible for her ordeal, Orkwande assured supporters that a thorough investigation is underway.
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”The people that trafficked or smuggled her to Cotonou for prostitution will sure face the law and serve in prison uniform,” Orkwande stated, adding that comprehensive intelligence has already been gathered. Out of respect for the grieving family, further major disclosures and legal actions have been temporarily paused pending her burial.
The tragic incident has reignited nationwide conversations surrounding porous borders, systemic poverty, and the rampant recruitment networks exploiting young Nigerian women under the guise of lucrative employment opportunities abroad. Stakeholders are calling for intensified security and proactive intelligence sharing between Nigerian authorities and their counterparts in the Benin Republic to dismantle active trafficking syndicates.
