Alleged notorious human trafficker arrested after five years on the run

Also known as Uadiale Christiana Jacob and Christy Evan Osagie, the suspect is allegedly the leader of an International Human Trafficking network operating across the Middle Eastern countries but with its operational base in the United Arab Emirates, UAE, and Dubai.

It was gathered that Gold is a top ranking member of a human trafficking syndicate, which specialized in the recruitment, trafficking and sexual exploitation of underage Nigerian girls in the UAE.

She had been on the wanted list of the National Agency for the Prohibition of Trafficking in Persons, NAPTIP, for the past five years.

Consequently Officers of the NIS on duty at the Abuja Airport, on 31 December 2024, when she was arrested on arrival from Dubai for the New Year celebration, handed her over to NAPTIP.

Meanwhile , her suspected accomplices,  are on the run. They include her field officers, who assist in the recruitment and subsequent transfer of victims, one Michael Nduka, Osas Wiseman, Vivian, and a one Prophet John in Lagos.

Gold has been arrested on October 13, 2020, by NAPTIP in the Ikpoba Hill area, Benin City, for her involvement in the trafficking of underage Nigerian girls to Dubai for forced prostitution.

She was subsequently arraigned before the Federal High Court, Asaba, Delta State, on November 25, 2020, where she was granted bail.

However , according to NAPTIP, Gold  absconded to Dubai and failed to appear before the Court, resulting in the sitting Judge issuing a Bench Warrant for her arrest on November 3,  2021.

Her case was also reported to the Minister of Justice and Attorney General of the Federation, the National Central Bureau (NCB), INTERPOL Nigeria, the National Intelligence Agency (NIA), the Nigeria Immigration Service (NIS), and the United Arab Emirates Police for her arrest and extradition to Nigeria.

She had successfully evaded arrest since then but was not that lucky on December 31, 2024 when the NIS operatives arrested her.

Binta Adamu Bello, the Director General of NAPTIP, commended the NIS for arresting the fugitive, adding it was as a result of good inter-agency collaboration.

‘‘The convict arrested and convicted will indeed be taken to the Court to face the sentence by the Law,” she said.

“This is a clear message to other members of this international criminal gang who are still on the run: They can only hide for a while; they can never hide forever. We have already activated all necessary security and intelligence apparatuses, and our partners worldwide are looking for these elements. Very soon, the net will catch them.

“I am happy it was a sad end for human traffickers in the country in 2024, and we promise them hell in 2025. We are more determined and will be more decisive this year to fish them out and ensure the protection of Nigerians from trafficking, exploitation, and violence against persons.’’