The Ondo State Police Command has dismantled a human trafficking syndicate operating around Akure, arresting ten illegal immigrants involved in luring a Congolese national into Nigeria under false pretences.
Acting on intelligence, officers raided a residential hideout along Oda Road in Akure North Local Government Area on July 31, 2025. The group consisted of foreign nationals who entered Nigeria illegally from the Republic of Benin, several of them holding expired passports or no documentation.
Among those apprehended were individuals identified as Joel Atouh (37), Mohamed Atta Amidou (35), Saibou Akateliwe (33), Abdul Jahao (26), Ndah Severin (27), Ruth Kumpori (19), Martin Kumpori (31), Tatiana Madous Dianne (32), Martias Sossa (22), and Oba Giove Ndapola (30). They are accused of conspiring to illegally bring in 29-year-old Nzaou Yelica Christ-Olse, a Congolese national, under the guise of training him in an online business—only to abandon him upon arrival.
Commissioner of Police Adebowale Lawal confirmed that the suspect group violated Nigeria’s immigration and anti-trafficking laws. The case has been formally referred to the Nigeria Immigration Service and the National Agency for the Prohibition of Trafficking in Persons (NAPTIP) for further investigation and prosecution.
The victim is now in safe custody and receiving appropriate support.
This operation highlights ongoing criminal networks exploiting weak border controls and human desperation across West Africa. Security authorities in Ondo State have committed to continue intelligence-led enforcement in cooperation with regional and federal agencies to dismantle similar syndicates and safeguard vulnerable individuals.
The crackdown reflects a zero‑tolerance stance toward human trafficking in the region and underscores the importance of inter-agency collaboration.
