The Nigeria Police Force has rescued two Colombian women who were allegedly lured to Nigeria by a human trafficking syndicate and held captive in Lagos.
The Force Public Relations Officer, CSP Aniete Iniedu, disclosed this in a statement on Saturday.
According to him, the rescue followed intelligence received by the National Central Bureau (NCB)-INTERPOL, Lagos Annex, on August 26, 2026, about the whereabouts of the two victims.
The women were identified as Maria Camila Rodas Ortiz and Yuliet Fernanda Rios Mesa, both citizens of Colombia.
Iniedu said the victims were deceived into travelling to Nigeria, where they were held against their will and had their travel documents seized by suspected Chinese nationals who are currently on the run.
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“The victims were fraudulently lured to Nigeria, held against their will, and had their travel documents confiscated by certain Chinese nationals who are currently at large,” he said.
He explained that police operatives immediately launched a covert operation after receiving the intelligence and located the hideout where the women were being held in Lagos.
According to the police spokesperson, the victims were rescued safely on the same day, while the suspects fled the scene after noticing the approaching officers.
He said efforts had been intensified to track down and arrest all members of the trafficking syndicate.
Iniedu added that the rescued women are in safe custody and are receiving the necessary support.
He said the Colombian Embassy in Accra is working closely with INTERPOL to provide hotel accommodation for the victims and arrange emergency travel documents to enable them return safely to Bogotá.
The Inspector-General of Police, IGP Olatunji Rilwan Disu, reaffirmed the commitment of the Nigeria Police Force to protecting everyone in the country and strengthening cooperation with international law enforcement agencies to tackle cross-border crimes.
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