By John Obi
The Ondo State Police Command has uncovered a human trafficking syndicate that specialises in luring nationals of other West African countries to Nigeria, under the guise of assisting them get jobs and travel documents to Europe.
The Command’s Spokesperson, Olayinka Ayanlade, who disclosed this in a statement on Saturday, said police operatives of the Tactical Intelligence Response Squad (TIRS), Akure, successfully rescued one David Angerinya, a Ghanaian national, who was allegedly trafficked into Nigeria under pretences.
According to him “The operation followed a formal petition forwarded through the Interpol Liaison Office, Force Headquarters Abuja, requesting urgent police intervention in a case of transnational human trafficking involving a Ghanaian citizen allegedly lured to Nigeria in 2024 with the promise of employment by an unidentified associate,”
“Acting swiftly on the report, detectives from the Tactical Intelligence Response Squad, led by DSP Lekan Alabi, commenced a targeted investigation and subsequently apprehended three principal suspects identified as:Hayford Nyamekye, Awine Alex and Kojo Felix.”
“Preliminary investigations revealed that the suspects are part of a larger transnational trafficking syndicate that specialises in deceiving unsuspecting individuals, particularly from neighbouring West African countries, into travelling to Nigeria with false assurances of lucrative job opportunities and visa arrangements to Canada and other Western nations,” he said.
Mr Ayanlade said an additional 39 Ghanaian nationals were discovered to have fallen victim to the same network.
“Many of them were found without valid travel documents, while those who had any presented expired ones,” He said
He said all arrested suspects are in police custody and are cooperating with ongoing investigations adding that there are ongoing efforts to apprehend the owners and caretakers of the buildings where the victims were harboured, and for the illegal activities
Anyanlade quotes the Commissioner of Police, CP Adebowale Lawal as reiterating’ the unwavering commitment of the Ondo State Police Command to combating human trafficking and all forms of transnational organised crime.
“He urges members of the public to remain vigilant and report all suspicious movements or activities to the nearest police station or through the command’s emergency contact lines,”
