• Three suspects arrested
The Ondo State Command of the Nigeria Police Force has busted a transnational human trafficking syndicate operating in Akure, the state capital, in a major crackdown on trans-border criminal activities.
The operation, led by the Tactical Intelligence Response Squad (TIRS) of the State Police Command, resulted in the rescue of 40 Ghanaians allegedly lured into Nigeria with false assurances of lucrative jobs and visa to American countries.
The foregoing was disclosed in a statement issued by the spokesperson for the command, Olayinka Ayanlade, in Akure yesterday.
Ayanlade said the operation carried out by TIRS team led by Deputy Superintendent of Police (DSP), Lekan Labi, followed a formal petition forwarded through the INTERPOL Liaison Office at Force Headquarters in Abuja.
He explained that the petition had requested urgent intervention over a case of transnational human trafficking involving a Ghanaian citizen allegedly lured to Nigeria with promise of employment by an unidentified associate.
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According to him, the petition specifically highlighted the case of the Ghanaian national, David Angerinya, who was reportedly lured into the country in 2024 with promises of employment.
He revealed that the police were able to arrest three suspects — Hayford Nyamekye, Awine Alex and Kojo Felix — in connection with the crime.
Ayanlade said: “Preliminary investigation 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.
“The victim, David Angerinya, was successfully rescued during the operation.
“Alarmingly, an additional thirty-nine (39) Ghanaian nationals were discovered to have fallen victim to this same network.
“Many of them were found without valid travel documents, while those who had any presented expired ones.”
He explained that all arrested suspects were in police custody, where they were cooperating with ongoing investigations.
He also said that efforts were on to apprehend the owners and caretakers of the buildings where the victims were harbored.
The Commissioner of Police in the state, CP Adebowale Lawal, condemned the action of the syndicate, reiterating the unwavering commitment of the state’s police command to combating human trafficking and all forms of transnational organised crime.
He, however, urged 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.