Woman wanted for trafficking Nigeria girls to Dubai arrested on arrival in Abuja

A notorious human trafficking kingpin, Uadiale Christiana Jacob, also known as Christy Evan Osagie or “Christy Gold,” has been apprehended at the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport in Abuja.

The arrest, carried out by officers of the Nigeria Immigration Service (NIS) on December 31, 2024, brings an end to a five-year manhunt for the convicted trafficker who fled justice after being granted bail in 2020.

Christy Gold, a well-known figure in the underworld of international human trafficking, is alleged to have led a powerful syndicate with operations spanning the Middle East and a hub in the United Arab Emirates (UAE). Her network was infamous for recruiting and trafficking underage Nigerian girls to Dubai for sexual exploitation.

The fugitive had been on the wanted list of the National Agency for the Prohibition of Trafficking in Persons (NAPTIP) since 2019. According to NAPTIP’s press officer, Vincent Adekoye, on Friday, the arrest followed a February 2023 request for her watchlisting by the NIS.

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“Luck ran out on her when she returned to Nigeria for the New Year celebration,” Adekoye said in a statement.

Investigations reveal a grim history. In March 2020, intelligence shared by the NIS Ikeja Airport Command with NAPTIP’s Joint Border Task Force exposed Christy Gold as a senior member of a syndicate exploiting underage Nigerian girls. She was first arrested in October 2020 in Benin City, Edo State, but later absconded to Dubai while on bail, violating court orders.

Her disappearance led to the issuance of a bench warrant by the Federal High Court, Asaba, in November 2021. Despite her absence, the diligent efforts of NAPTIP and other security agencies resulted in her conviction in absentia on March 21, 2024. However, sentencing was delayed pending her re-arrest.

NAPTIP’s relentless pursuit of justice included collaboration with the Ministry of Justice, INTERPOL, the National Intelligence Agency (NIA), and UAE authorities. These efforts culminated in her arrest upon her return to Nigeria last week.

Christy Gold’s syndicate was not a solo operation. The agency disclosed that her accomplices—identified as Michael Nduka, Osas Wiseman, Vivian, and a certain Prophet John—remain at large. These “field officers” were instrumental in recruiting victims and facilitating their transportation to the Middle East.

Christy Gold is expected to face sentencing for her conviction in the coming days, marking a significant victory in the fight against human trafficking in Nigeria.

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