Police in Ondo State said they arrested six suspects and rescued 14 victims in two separate, intelligence-led operations targeting transnational human-trafficking networks.
A Togolese man, Meale Yaoili, told officers he was lured from Togo to Nigeria with a false job promise and held after paying 800,000 CFA francs, police said.
“Following swift and coordinated action by operatives of the command, six suspects were arrested in connection with the case,” DSP Abayomi Jimoh said.
The suspects named by police include Cleude Grao, Samuel Dsiwa, Michael Amissa, Olayiwola Kazeem, Akinubi Adebayo and landlord Oluwole Vincent, who is accused of hosting the illegal operation.
Jimoh said three victims were rescued from that location.
In a second case at Oba-Ile, investigators found 11 Chadian men and one woman held and trafficked under the guise of commission-based marketing.
Police said preliminary inquiries show the operation moved migrants via the Cameroon border and that the suspects have made “useful statements.”
Commissioner of Police Adebowale Lawal warned landlords to vet tenants.
“Negligence would attract legal consequences,” he said, and officials added rescued victims will be handed to their embassies for repatriation.
Authorities said investigations continue and that some principal suspects remain at large.
