RAYMOND TEDUNJAYE, Lagos.
Police operatives in Lagos have burst the a human trafficking syndicate, rescuing no fewer than 27 victims from the criminal gang.
The victims, identified to be 18 male and 19 female in number, were said to have hailed from Ghana and Benin republic.
Addressing a press conference on the achievements of the Command in the last two weeks, the Lagos State Police Command public relations officers CSP Benjamin Hundeyin disclosed that the victims were rescued at an apartment in Isheri Oshun area of the State.
He added that the victims were to be trafficked out of the country by their agent.
Hundeyin, who briefed the press on behalf of Commissioner of Police, CP Jimoh Moshood said, ” As soon as the Police received the information, operatives moved into the area and rescued the victims who were locked up in an apartment in the area.
“Among the rescued were 18 male and 19 Female, some of them were Ghanian and some are from Benin Republic”.
He added that preliminary investigations revealed that they were all lured into the country under the guise of getting them jobs.
In a related development on March 9, 2025, a Vendor also claimed that she was allegedly kidnapped and extorted by individuals posing as customers.
According to the victim, on March 5, at about 8am, while she was at her shop in Alaba International Market, Ojo, one Emmanuel Bernard contacted her via WhatsApp, requesting she deliver two phone pouches to Iyana-Isashi area of the State.
The victim said upon arrival at the said address she was forcefully dragged into a room by the said Emmanuel and another female accomplice, identified as Mazioma Okafor and the door was locked behind.
According to the police image manager, the suspects physically assaulted her, took nude pictures, and demanded a ransom of two million naira from her.
“The victim was later released after her family members paid three hundred thousand ransom, following her complaint, a team of police detectives was mobilized to the scene, leading to the swift arrest of the two suspects, who are currently in our custody”.