Vulnerable Teenager Trafficked Into UK

A vulnerable teenager who is believed to have been trafficked into the UK has been found.

Sussex Police said she and another girl, who are both 15 and from Nigeria, traveled to Spain on Saturday after they were reported missing.

Joy Igaharo and Esohe Ida-Ogabono disappeared on Good Friday afternoon after saying that they were going to church, a police spokesman said.

They were last seen at about 2.30pm, apparently heading for a Baptist church in Greystoke Road, Ferring, Worthing, but they never arrived, he added.

Both girls arrived in the UK unaccompanied from Nigeria in the last few weeks, but police believe they had not met before arriving in Worthing, West Sussex.

Today Sussex Police confirmed that one of the girls was detained by passport control in Spain on Saturday, returned to the UK and taken into the care of social services.

The spokesman said the other girl has not been found and her whereabouts is unknown.

He said the force would not confirm which of the girls had been detained or where she has been relocated.

Detective Chief Inspector Adam Hibbert, Crime Manager for West Sussex CID, said:

`It's our belief that these two girls have been trafficked into the UK for onward transportation to somewhere in Europe. Whilst one has been recovered we still have another vulnerable 15-year-old missing. Our investigation is focusing on identifying where the other girl is and the circumstances of how they were trafficked.

`As a result we are working closely with the UK Border Agency, the UK Human Trafficking Centre, local authorities and the Human Trafficking Unit of the Met.''

Anyone with information that could help Sussex Police with this investigation should call 101 quoting Op Newbridge.