The Ondo State Police Command has arrested six suspects and rescued 14 victims in two separate cases of transnational human trafficking across the state.
The command’s spokesperson, DSP Abayomi Jimoh, disclosed this in a statement issued on Saturday.
According to the statement, the first case was reported on January 22, 2026, when a Togolese national, Meale Yaoili, visited the Yaba Police Station in Ondo City. Yaoili alleged that he was lured from Togo to Nigeria in 2019 under the pretext of securing employment in Canada.
He told police that he was deceived by one Tchodia Potolaw Fidel, who is currently at large and claimed to be residing in Canada. Yaoili further alleged that upon his arrival in Nigeria, his personal belongings were forcefully seized, and he was held against his will after paying 800,000 CFA francs.
DSP Jimoh said operatives of the command acted swiftly on the report, leading to the arrest of six suspects and the rescue of three victims.
The suspects were identified as Cleude Grao, Samuel Dsiwa, Michael Amissa, Olayiwola Kazeem, Akinubi Adebayo, and Oluwole Vincent, the landlord of the premises where the illegal operation was allegedly carried out.
In a separate development, the police uncovered another trafficking operation in Oba-Ile, Akure North Local Government Area.
DSP Jimoh explained that on January 23, 2026, a complaint initially reported as suspected banditry was lodged by Chief Ojomu of Oba-Ile at the Oba-Ile Divisional Headquarters against Umaru Baba and 11 others. The case was later transferred to the State Criminal Investigation Department for further investigation.
Preliminary findings revealed that the suspects were not bandits, as initially alleged, but illegal immigrants from the Republic of Chad.
Further investigations showed that the principal suspect, Umaru Baba, allegedly operates as a representative of a company involved in online marketing. He was accused of recruiting and harbouring 11 able-bodied men and one female, all Chadians suspected to be illegal migrants, who were brought into Nigeria through the Cameroonian border under the guise of commission-based marketing jobs.
The police also disclosed that the owner of the house where the victims were harboured, a female resident of Ibadan, is being traced for questioning over alleged negligence in allowing her property to be used for criminal activities.
DSP Jimoh said all suspects have made useful statements and that investigations are ongoing to apprehend other fleeing suspects. He added that the rescued victims would be handed over to their respective embassies for necessary diplomatic action and repatriation.
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2026-01-29
