At least 15 young women who were allegedly trafficked under the false promise of job opportunities have been rescued by the Ondo State Police Command.
In a statement released on Sunday, the command’s spokesperson, Olushola Ayanlade, confirmed that three suspects linked to the trafficking ring have been arrested, while efforts are ongoing to track down others.
According to the statement, “The Ondo State Police Command has dismantled a notorious sex trafficking syndicate exploiting young women under the guise of job recruitment and social media content creation.”
Ayanlade revealed that operatives of the Special Weapons and Tactics (SWAT) Unit acted on credible intelligence to raid the gang’s base in Alagbaka, Akure, arresting Jayeola Joshua and two accomplices.
Preliminary investigations showed that the victims aged between 20 and 26 were lured from different parts of the country with promises of domestic work, ushering, and overseas employment. Upon arrival in Akure, they were kept in a rented apartment that served as the hub for the criminal operation.
The police explained that the victims were coerced into sending nude photos and videos, which were used to procure clients for sexual exploitation. The ringleaders reportedly disguised their activities as social media content creation, masking the criminal enterprise as “relationship content.”
Ayanlade added that the principal suspect pocketed the largest share of the proceeds from the exploitation.
The police also disclosed that the landlords of the apartment used for the illegal operation would be invited for questioning.
Human trafficking remains a growing concern in Nigeria. According to the International Organisation for Migration (IOM), about 11,000 Nigerian women were trafficked through the Mediterranean in 2016 up from 1,454 in 2014 with many forced into sex work. A UNHCR report further revealed that 18,000 Nigerian migrants arrived in Europe via the same route in 2017, while UNDP data in 2019 showed that Nigerians made up 17% of all African migrants to Europe.
The Ondo Police Command assured the public of its continued commitment to dismantling trafficking networks and protecting vulnerable citizens across the state.
