The Enugu State Police Command has arraigned a 23-year-old man, Victor Oreba Nwite, before an Enugu Magistrate Court over allegations of abducting, unlawfully detaining and torturing three young men in a bid to recruit them into internet fraud.
Nwite was docked before Chief Magistrate U.M. Ozoeze-Ozobu on a six-count charge bordering on unlawful confinement and assault.
According to the charge sheet, the defendant allegedly held Izuchukwu Nnome, Joseph Alaka and Miracle Tochukwu captive in an apartment located at Heliu Estate, Independence Layout, Enugu, between March and June 2026.
The prosecution accused him of unlawfully confining the victims against their will, an offence punishable under Section 316 of the Criminal Code of Enugu State.
He is also facing separate counts of assault for allegedly inflicting injuries on the victims during their captivity.
Police alleged that the victims sustained injuries to their heads and backs after being repeatedly beaten while they were held in the apartment.
Reacting to the arraignment, the Civil Rights Realisation and Advancement Network (CRRAN) commended Governor Peter Mbah for facilitating action on the case following a petition submitted to the state government on June 18.
In a statement signed by its President, Olu Omotayo, the rights group praised the governor for ensuring the matter was thoroughly investigated rather than ignored.
CRRAN recalled that the three victims escaped from the apartment on June 11 after spending more than three months in captivity.
According to the organisation, the victims emerged with visible injuries and informed residents that they had been confined since March 16.
The victims were subsequently handed over to officers of the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) before the matter was transferred to the police for investigation.
The group also urged the Enugu State Attorney General to ensure diligent prosecution of the case.
The arraignment follows the circulation of a video in which Nwite allegedly confessed during police interrogation that he recruited young men to work in internet fraud operations, popularly known as “Yahoo Yahoo.”
According to investigators, the suspect admitted he specialised in impersonating military personnel online to deceive and defraud foreign victims.
The alleged confession is consistent with the accounts of the victims, who claimed they were lured from Ebonyi State with promises of legitimate employment but were instead pressured to engage in cybercrime.
One of the victims alleged that shortly after arriving at the suspect’s residence, he was handed a laptop and instructed to begin carrying out online fraud.
The victims further claimed that when they refused to participate in the illegal activities, they were subjected to repeated torture with canes, electric cables, iron rods and mop sticks, fed only once a day and kept under constant surveillance.
One of them also alleged that after expressing a desire to return home, the suspect demanded ₦300,000 before he would be allowed to leave, claiming it was to cover the cost of feeding him during his stay.
The case is expected to proceed before the Enugu Magistrate Court as the prosecution presents evidence against the defendant.
