Ondo Police nab suspected traffickers, rescue 14 victims

The Ondo State Police Command has arrested suspected human traffickers and rescued 14 victims in different parts of the state.

The command’s spokesperson, DSP Abayomi Jimoh, confirmed the development in a statement issued to journalists in Akure on Saturday.

He said the arrests were part of ongoing efforts by the police to tackle human trafficking and other related crimes.

According to Jimoh, the breakthrough followed a report made on January 22 by a Togolese national, Meale Yaoili, at the Yaba Police Station in Ondo State.

Yaoili told the police that he had escaped from the custody of a human trafficking syndicate operating within Nigeria.

He explained that the victim’s report led to swift investigations, which resulted in the arrest of the suspects and the rescue of 14 persons believed to be victims of the trafficking network.

According to the Jimoh, Yaoili said he was lured from the Republic of Togo to Nigeria under the pretext of securing employment in Canada.

“Yaoili said he knew one Tchodia Potolaw Fidel, now at large, since 2019, who claimed to be residing in Canada.

“Fidel 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 command’s operatives, 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.

“During the operation, three victims were successfully rescued,” the statement said.

Similarly, the spokesperson also said a trans-national syndicate engaging in trans-border criminal activities was uncovered.

Jimoh said the syndicate operated as a representative of a company involved in online marketing of various products.

He explained that on January 23, a case initially reported as suspected banditry, was lodged by one Chief Ojomu of Oba-Ile at the Oba-Ile Divisional Headquarters against Umaru Baba, male, and eleven others.

According to him, 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 in Akure.

“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,” he said.

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