Police rescue Nigerian woman sold for N770,000 in Mali

Nigeria’s police rescued Patience Darius, 21, from Nasarawa State, after she was lured to Mali with false job promises and forced into prostitution. Three suspects from Benue State, including alleged syndicate leader Orgba Solomon, were arrested between October 1 and 27, 2026. Police said Darius was sold for 420,000 CFA francs, about N770,000, beaten, and forced to take a blood oath at a shrine. She also reported that about 42 Nigerian women were being held near a Malian gold-mining site in forced prostitution and slave-like conditions.