Ogun state police human trafficking syndicate
The police command in Ogun State has reported the arrest of individuals linked to a human-trafficking syndicate operating across borders. According to a statement by the zonal spokesperson of Nigeria Police Force Zone 2, the syndicate recruited vulnerable persons with the intention of transporting them out of the country for exploitative purposes. The syndicate is alleged to have enticed young women and possibly men with promises of employment abroad, only for the recruits to be exploited. One suspect, identified as Stella Edem, confessed to being introduced to the operation by an individual based in Mauritania, and stated she received payment for each person she recruited. In the course of the operation, two suspects were arrested at a recruitment base in the Ipaja-Ayobo area of neighbouring Lagos, and investigations revealed mapping of travel routes and coordination with foreign contacts. The development underscores the cross-border nature of trafficking networks and the efforts by security agencies to dismantle them.
The arrest is part of a broader crackdown on trafficking and cult-related criminality in both Lagos and Ogun states. Following intelligence reports, operatives ran covert operations in key hideouts and recruitment points. In each case, the suspects will face prosecution once investigation is concluded. The Nigeria Police Force emphasised that cooperation among states and regional border control will be critical in suppressing such syndicates. Victims of the operation are being supported by appropriate welfare and protection services as investigations continue into the network’s links and operations.
