At least 15 young women, reportedly lured into sex trafficking under the pretense of job opportunities, have been rescued by the Ondo State Police Command. The command also confirmed the arrest of three suspects linked to the syndicate.
In a statement issued on Sunday, the police spokesperson, Olushola Ayanlade, said, “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 explained that operatives from the command’s Special Weapons and Tactics (SWAT) Unit acted on credible intelligence to apprehend the suspects. “Acting on credible intelligence, operatives of the Command’s SWAT Unit arrested one Jayeola Joshua, male, of Alagbaka, Akure, along with two others, while efforts are ongoing to apprehend the remaining accomplices—signalling the Command’s unwavering commitment to protecting vulnerable citizens,” the statement added.
Preliminary investigations revealed that the syndicate recruited victims from various parts of the country with promises of lucrative employment, including domestic work, ushering services, and overseas placements. “Upon arrival in Akure, 15 victims, aged between 20 and 26, were accommodated in an apartment in Alagbaka, which became the operational base for the illicit activities,” the police noted.
Ayanlade emphasized that the arrangement not only facilitated exploitation but also illustrated how organized criminal networks prey on young women seeking legitimate job opportunities. Investigations further revealed that victims were coerced into sending nude photos and videos, which were then distributed to clients seeking sexual services.
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“The principal suspect reportedly received the largest share of the proceeds, while the operation was disguised as producing ‘relationship content’ on social media — misleading the public and concealing the criminal intent,” the statement said.
The police confirmed that the apartment used for the operation was specifically rented to carry out the illegal activities. The Ondo State Police boss has instructed that the landlords be invited for questioning as part of the ongoing probe.
Human trafficking remains a pressing concern in Nigeria. According to the International Organisation for Migration, around 11,000 Nigerian women were trafficked via the Mediterranean Sea in 2016, a sharp rise from 1,454 in 2014, most of whom were forced into sex work.
A 2018 UNHCR report indicated that about 18,000 Nigerian migrants reached Europe through the Mediterranean in 2017. By 2019, the United Nations Development Programme reported that Nigerians accounted for 17 per cent of all African migrants to Europe.
The Ondo State Police Command has assured the public that the investigation is ongoing and that more arrests are expected as authorities work to dismantle the trafficking network completely.