The Nigeria Police Force has rescued two Colombian women allegedly trafficked to Nigeria and held captive by members of a human trafficking syndicate in Lagos.
The victims, identified as Maria Camila Rodas Ortiz and Yuliet Fernanda Rios Mesa, were rescued by operatives of the National Central Bureau of INTERPOL, Lagos Annex, following intelligence from INTERPOL-NCB, Bogotá.
The Punch reported that the intelligence was received on Wednesday, August 26, 2026, prompting the police to launch an immediate covert operation to locate the victims.
The Force Public Relations Officer, CSP Ani Iniedu, disclosed the development in a statement issued on Saturday.
According to the police, the women were “fraudulently lured to Nigeria, held against their will, and had their travel documents confiscated” by some Chinese nationals suspected to be members of the trafficking syndicate.
The suspects, however, fled before the arrival of the police operatives.
“Upon receipt of the intelligence, police operatives promptly launched a covert tracking operation, locating the hideout in Lagos where both victims were safely rescued on the same day.”
The police said the suspects abandoned the hideout after noticing the approaching operatives.
“The fleeing suspects abandoned the location upon sighting the approaching team, and efforts have been intensified to track down and arrest all members of the syndicate,” the statement said.
The two Colombian nationals are currently in police custody, where they are receiving necessary support.
“The rescued victims are currently in safe custody and receiving necessary support,” the statement added.
The police further disclosed that the Colombian Embassy in Accra was working with the National Central Bureau to facilitate the victims’ return to Colombia.
“The Colombian Embassy in Accra is working in close collaboration with the Bureau to secure hotel accommodations for the victims and arrange emergency travel documents to ensure their safe return to Bogotá,” it said.
Inspector-General of Police, Olatunji Disu, reaffirmed the commitment of the Nigeria Police Force to protecting residents and strengthening cooperation with international law enforcement agencies in tackling transnational crimes.
The police said efforts were ongoing to apprehend the fleeing suspects and dismantle the trafficking network.
