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The Ondo State Police Command says it has rescued 14 persons apparently trafficked from different parts of West Africa by a syndicate now under its investigation.
Police spokesperson, Abayomi Jimoh, said in a statement on Saturday that the command had arrested some suspected human traffickers and rescued 14 victims in Ondo State.
”On Thursday, 22nd January, 2026, a Togolese national, Meale Yaoili (M), reported at the Yaba Police Station that he had escaped from the custody of a human trafficking syndicate operating within Nigeria,” the statement read.
”He stated that he was lured from the Republic of Togo to Nigeria under the pretext of securing employment in Canada.
”According to the victim, he knew one Tchodia Potolaw Fidel, now at large, since 2019, who claimed to be residing in Canada. The suspect allegedly convinced him to travel to Nigeria, claiming that there was no Canadian Embassy in Togo.
”Upon his arrival, the victim’s personal belongings were forcefully seized, and he was held against his will after paying the sum of 800,000 CFA francs.
”Following swift and coordinated action by operatives of the Command, six suspects were arrested in connection with the case. The suspects were 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 conducted.”
Mr Abayomi also noted that three victims were successfully rescued during the operation.
In the same vein, the command acted on a report initially thought to be a case of banditry, lodged by one Ojomu of Oba-Ile at the Oba-Ile Divisional Headquarters against Umaru Baba, male and eleven others.
Mr Abayomi said the case was subsequently transferred to the State Criminal Investigation Department (SCID) 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 around the OSOPADEC area of Akure,” he said.
” Further intelligence uncovered that Umaru Baba is allegedly at the centre of trans-border criminal activities, including recruitment, trafficking in persons, modern-day slavery, and other related offences.
”Investigations further indicated that the principal suspect allegedly operates as a representative of a company involved in online marketing of various products. Through this platform, the suspect is alleged to have lured, recruited, and harboured eleven able-bodied men and one female, all suspected to be illegal migrants, under the guise of engaging them as commission-based marketers.”
These persons were identified as: Husein Abdullahi (M), 26 yrs; Hassan Yaya (M), 23 yrs, Umaru Samida (M), 19 yrs, Umaru Buba (M), 24 yrs, Mohammed Almat (M), 24 yrs, Saleh Abduraman (M), 23 yrs, Musa Mohammed (M), 22 yrs, Mohammed Watala (M), 20 yrs, Ali Mohammad (M), 26 yrs, Hassan Hussein (M), 24 yrs, Yusuf Yakubu (M), 23 yrs.
All eleven persons were discovered to be Chadian nationals illegally transported into Nigeria en route the Cameroon border.
Mr Jimoh said the suspects are currently in police custody, while the identified foreign nationals are being treated as victims of trafficking.
”Efforts to access the locus in quo were initially unsuccessful, as the key holder was unavailable at the time of the visit,” he said.
He noted however, that the landlord, a female resident of Ibadan, is 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 explaining their respective roles in the offence,” said Mr Abayomi
” Investigation is ongoing with a view to apprehending the fleeing suspects, the rescued victims will be handed over to their respective embassies for necessary diplomatic action and repatriation.”
The police command therefore, warned landlords and property owners to always conduct proper background checks on prospective tenants and remain vigilant to prevent their premises from being used for criminal activities, stressing that negligence would attract legal consequences.