The Ondo State Police Command arrested suspected human traffickers and rescued 14 victims in separate operations across the state, according to a statement issued on Saturday by its Police Public Relations Officer, DSP Abayomi Jimoh.
The arrests were part of intelligence-led operations to combat human trafficking and fraud-related crimes in the state.
“In a sustained effort to curb human trafficking and other fraud-related crimes, the Ondo State Police Command has recorded a major operational success with the arrest of suspected human traffickers and the rescue of 14 victims in Ondo State,” the statement said.
It stated that on Thursday, January 22, 2026, Meale Yaoili, a Togolese national, reported to the Yaba Police Station that he had escaped from the custody of a human trafficking ring operating in Nigeria.
The victim said he was enticed from the Republic of Togo to Nigeria under the guise of finding work in Canada.
“According to the victim, he knew one Tchodia Potolaw Fidel, now at large, since 2019, who claimed to be residing in Canada,” the statement said.
It also stated that the suspect allegedly convinced him to travel to Nigeria, claiming that there was no Canadian Embassy in Togo.
“Upon his arrival, the victim’s personal belongings were forcefully seized, and he was held against his will after paying the sum of 800,000 CFA francs,” the police said.
Following the report, police detained six suspects: Cleude Grao, Samuel Dsiwa, Michael Amissa, Olayiwola Kazeem, Akinubi Adebayo, and Oluwole Vincent, the landlord of the premises where the illegal operation took place.
The police reported that three victims were rescued during the operation.
In another development, the command stated that Chief Ojomu of Oba-Ile filed a case against Umaru Baba and 11 others at the Oba-Ile Divisional Headquarters on January 23, 2026, after first reporting it as suspected banditry.
“The case was subsequently transferred to the State Criminal Investigation Department (SCID) for discreet investigation,” the statement said.
Preliminary investigations indicated that the suspects were not bandits as claimed but rather illegal immigrants from the Republic of Chad living in a duplex unit in Akure’s OSOPADEC neighborhood.
“Further intelligence uncovered that Umaru Baba is allegedly at the center of trans-border criminal activities, including recruitment, trafficking in persons, modern-day slavery, and other related offenses,” the police said.
According to the statement, investigations revealed that the main suspect reportedly worked as a representative of an internet marketing organization and used the platform to recruit and harbor eleven able-bodied men and one girl under the premise of commission-based marketing.
“All eleven persons were discovered to be Chadian nationals illegally transported into Nigeria en route to the Cameroon border,” the statement said.
According to the authorities, the suspects are currently in jail, and the identified foreign people are being treated as victims of trafficking.
It further revealed that attempts to enter the premises were originally unsuccessful and that the landlord, a female Ibadan resident, is being sought for interrogation regarding alleged neglect.
“The suspects in both cases have made useful statements explaining their respective roles in the offense,” the statement added, adding that investigations were still underway to catch fleeing suspects.
The police stated that the rescued victims would be handed over to their respective embassies for diplomatic action and repatriation.
Adebowale Lawal, the Commissioner of Police, has cautioned landlords and property owners to do thorough background checks on tenants and to remain cautious.
“He stressed that negligence would attract legal consequences,” the statement said.
Lawal also informed locals that the command is committed to combating human trafficking and transnational crimes, while inviting the public to offer credible information to aid state policing activities.
