Ondo Police Arrest Suspected Human Traffickers, Rescue 14 Victims, Bust Transnational Syndicate
The Ondo State Police Command has arrested several suspected human traffickers, rescued 14 victims and uncovered a transnational criminal syndicate involved in cross-border crimes.
The command’s spokesperson, DSP Abayomi Jimoh, disclosed this in a statement issued to journalists in Akure on Saturday, saying the breakthrough followed sustained efforts to curb human trafficking and other fraud-related offences in the state.
Jimoh said the operation began on January 22 after a Togolese national, Meale Yaoili, reported at the Yaba Police Station that he had escaped from the custody of a human trafficking syndicate operating in Nigeria.
According to him, Yaoili said he was lured from the Republic of Togo to Nigeria with promises of securing employment in Canada by one Tchodia Potolaw Fidel, who is currently at large and claimed to be residing in Canada.
“He was convinced to travel to Nigeria on the claim that there was no Canadian Embassy in Togo. On arrival, his personal belongings were seized, and he was held against his will after paying 800,000 CFA francs,” Jimoh said.
He added that swift and coordinated action by police operatives led to the arrest of six suspects identified as Cleude Grao, Samuel Dsiwa, Michael Amissa, Olayiwola Kazeem, Akinubi Adebayo and Oluwole Vincent, the landlord of the premises where the illegal operation was carried out.
“During the operation, three victims were rescued,” he said.
In a related development, Jimoh said the police uncovered a transnational syndicate engaged in cross-border criminal activities under the guise of online marketing.
He explained that on January 23, a case initially reported as suspected banditry by Chief Ojomu of Oba-Ile against Umaru Baba and 11 others was later transferred to the State Criminal Investigation Department for discreet investigation.
“Preliminary investigations revealed that the suspects were not bandits as alleged, but illegal immigrants from the Republic of Chad residing in a duplex apartment in Akure,” Jimoh said.
Further investigations, he said, showed that Umaru Baba was allegedly at the centre of trans-border crimes, including recruitment, human trafficking, modern-day slavery and related offences.
According to the police, the suspect allegedly operated as a representative of a company involved in online marketing, through which he lured, recruited and harboured 11 able-bodied men and one female, all suspected to be illegal migrants, under the guise of commission-based marketing jobs.
The victims were identified as Husein Abdullahi, 26; Hassan Yaya, 23; Umaru Samida, 19; Umaru Buba, 24; Mohammed Almat, 24; Saleh Abduraman, 23; Musa Mohammed, 22; Mohammed Watala, 20; Ali Mohammad, 26; Hassan Hussein, 24; and Yusuf Yakubu, 23.
Jimoh said all 11 were Chadian nationals illegally trafficked into Nigeria en route to the Cameroon border and were being treated as victims of trafficking, while the suspects remain in police custody.
He added that the landlord of the apartment, a female resident of Ibadan, was being traced for questioning over alleged negligence in allowing her property to be used for criminal activities.
“The suspects in both cases have made useful statements, while investigation is ongoing to apprehend fleeing suspects. The rescued victims will be handed over to their respective embassies for necessary diplomatic action and repatriation,” he said.
The Ondo State Commissioner of Police warned landlords and property owners to conduct proper background checks on tenants and remain vigilant to prevent their properties from being used for criminal activities, noting that negligence would attract legal consequences.
He reassured residents of the command’s commitment to combating human trafficking, trans-border crimes and other criminal activities, and urged the public to continue providing credible information to support policing efforts across the state.
