At least 15 young girls who were allegedly lured into sex trafficking under the pretext of job offers have been rescued by the Ondo State Police Command.
The command, in a statement issued on Sunday by its spokesperson, Olushola Ayanlade, confirmed the arrest of three suspects linked to the trafficking network.
According to the statement, “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 of the command’s Special Weapons and Tactics Unit acted on credible intelligence to arrest 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 read.
The police revealed that preliminary investigations showed the syndicate lured victims from different parts of the country with false 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 statement added.
Ayanlade explained that the arrangement enabled large-scale exploitation and highlighted how organised criminal groups prey on the desperation of young women seeking legitimate opportunities. Additional investigations indicated that the victims were manipulated into sending nude photos and videos, which were then forwarded to clients procuring sexual services.
“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 further noted.
The police said evidence gathered also showed that the apartment used for the operation was specifically rented to facilitate the illegal business. The Ondo State Commissioner of Police has directed that the landlords of the property be invited for questioning as part of ongoing investigations.
Human trafficking remains a growing concern in Nigeria. According to data from the International Organisation for Migration, approximately 11,000 Nigerian women were trafficked through the Mediterranean Sea in 2016—a steep increase from 1,454 in 2014—most of whom were forced into sex work. A 2018 UNHCR report also recorded that about 18,000 Nigerian migrants arrived in Europe through the Mediterranean in 2017, while the United Nations Development Programme in 2019 reported that Nigerians accounted for 17 per cent of all African migrants to Europe.
