111 Ethiopians rescued in suspected human trafficking – News Ghana

Security forces in Ethiopia's northern Amhara regional state have rescued 111 individuals in a suspected case of human trafficking, an Ethiopian official said on Friday.

Desalegn Abera, senior police commander of Gonder city administration, said the 97 females and 14 males were rescued recently, after one of them managed to escape from a compound they were being held against their will by suspected human traffickers.

Abera said the suspected human traffickers had lured the victims with a promise they would smuggle them to neighboring Sudan, reported state affiliated media outlet Fana Broadcasting Corporate (FBC).

Abera further said the suspected human traffickers were torturing the 111 individuals and extorting the victims' families for money for one month before the rescue operation.

The police commander didn't disclose whether any of the suspected human traffickers were apprehended during the rescue operation. He also didn't disclose the exact date of the operation.

However, Abera revealed 150 individuals were rescued and six suspected human traffickers arrested in another recent rescue operation in Gonder city.