Operatives from the Nigeria Police Force’s National Central Bureau of INTERPOL, Lagos Annex, rescued two Colombian nationals who were allegedly enticed to Nigeria and held captive by a human trafficking organization.
The victims, Maria Camila Rodas Ortiz and Yuliet Fernanda Rios Mesa, were rescued on Wednesday, August 26, 2026, as a result of actionable intelligence received from INTERPOL-NCB in Bogotá.
CSP Ani Iniedu, the Force’s Public Relations Officer, confirmed this in a statement made on Saturday.
According to the statement, two ladies were “fraudulently lured to Nigeria, held against their will, and had their travel documents confiscated” by several Chinese nationals who are still at large.
According to the statement, authorities initiated a clandestine tracking operation as soon as they received the intelligence.
It further stated that the operatives discovered the hideout in Lagos and rescued the victims “on the same day.”
The statement read in part, “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.”
According to authorities, the suspects fled the scene when they saw 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 police said the rescued Colombian nationals were currently in safe custody and receiving necessary support.
“The rescued victims are currently in safe custody and receiving necessary support,” the statement added.
The statement also disclosed that the Colombian Embassy in Accra was collaborating with the National Central Bureau to facilitate the victims’ return to their country.
“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.
Olatunji Disu, the Inspector-General of Police, underlined the police’s commitment to protecting communities while also strengthening international collaboration against transnational criminals.
The statement said Disu “reaffirms the unwavering commitment of the Nigeria Police Force to safeguarding the lives and property of all residents within the country while deepening collaboration with international law enforcement partners to combat cross-border crimes.”
The police stated that efforts had been intensified to arrest the fleeing suspects and dismantle the trafficking network.
