The Ondo State Police Command Nigeria, has dismantled an illegal transnational human trafficking syndicate, rescuing 14 victims and arresting six suspects. According to DSP Abayomi Jimoh, the command’s spokesperson, the operation was sparked by a report from Meale Yaoili, a Togolese national who was lured to Nigeria with promises of a Canadian job in 2019. Yaoili claimed he was deceived by Tchodia Potolaw Fidel, now at large, who allegedly seized his belongings and held him captive after he paid 800,000 CFA francs.

The arrested suspects include Cleude Grao, Samuel Dsiwa, Michael Amissa, Olayiwola Kazeem, Akinubi Adebayo, and Oluwole Vincent, the landlord of the premises where the victims were held. Three victims were rescued, and investigations are ongoing to apprehend other suspects.

In a related incident, police uncovered another trafficking ring in Oba-Ile, Akure, involving Umaru Baba and 11 others. Preliminary investigations revealed the suspects were illegal immigrants from Chad, lured with promises of commission-based marketing jobs. The victims, 11 men and one woman, were transported through the Cameroonian border. The house owner, a female Ibadan resident, is being traced for alleged negligence.