The Ondo State Police Command has dismantled a suspected human trafficking network, arresting suspects and rescuing 14 victims in operations that exposed a transnational syndicate operating within the state.
The state Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO), DSP Abayomi Jimoh, disclosed this on Thursday in Akure, saying the breakthrough followed a complaint by a Togolese national, Meale Yaoili, who escaped from his captors and reported at the Yaba Police Station.
According to Jimoh, Yaoili told police that he was lured from the Republic of Togo to Nigeria with promises of securing employment in Canada. He said the victim alleged that one Tchodia Potolaw Fidel, currently at large and known to him since 2019, claimed to be based in Canada and convinced him to travel to Nigeria, insisting that Canada had no embassy in Togo.
“Upon arrival in Nigeria, the victim was allegedly dispossessed of his personal belongings, detained against his will and forced to pay 800,000 CFA francs.”
He added that swift police action led to the arrest of six suspects in connection with the case, identified as Cleude Grao, Samuel Dsiwa, Michael Amissa, Olayiwola Kazeem, Akinubi Adebayo and Oluwole Vincent, the landlord of the premises where the victims were held. Three additional victims were also rescued during the operation, the police spokesman said.
In a related development, the command said another case initially reported as suspected banditry on January 23, 2026, by Chief Ojomu of Oba-Ile, was transferred to the State Criminal Investigation Department for further investigation.
Jimoh said the suspect, Umaru Baba, and eleven others were later discovered not to be bandits but illegal immigrants from the Republic of Chad.
Investigations revealed that the suspects were residing in a duplex apartment around the OSOPADEC area of Akure and were allegedly involved in trans-border crimes, including human trafficking, illegal recruitment and modern-day slavery.
According to the police, Umaru Baba allegedly posed as a representative of an online marketing company, using the platform to lure and harbour eleven men and one woman under the guise of commission-based employment.
The eleven men, aged between 19 and 26, were identified as Chadian nationals who were illegally brought into Nigeria en route to the Cameroon border and are now being treated as victims of trafficking. The suspects remain in police custody.
The command said access to the premises used by the syndicate was initially blocked, while efforts are ongoing to locate the female landlord, said to be based in Ibadan, for questioning over alleged negligence in allowing her property to be used for criminal activities.
Police said suspects in both cases have made useful statements and that investigations are ongoing to apprehend fleeing suspects. The rescued victims are expected to be handed over to their respective embassies for diplomatic engagement and repatriation.
Meanwhile, the Commissioner of Police in the state, Adebowale Lawal, warned landlords and property owners to conduct proper background checks on tenants, stressing that negligence could attract legal consequences.