The Ondo State Police Command has uncovered a human trafficking ring and arrested two suspects following the rescue of a 21-year-old woman trafficked to Côte d’Ivoire for sexual exploitation.
The victim, Akinwunmi Faith, was said to have been lured abroad under the pretext of securing legitimate employment but was later forced into prostitution.
According to a statement issued on Monday by the Police Public Relations Officer, DSP Abayomi Jimoh, the case was reported at the Okitipupa Division on April 13, 2026, by the victim’s mother, Mrs Akinwunmi Olubunmi.
The police revealed that investigations showed the victim was trafficked on February 22, 2026, by three suspects—Akinlaja Blessings, Johnson Ahomari, and one Grace, who remains at large—after being promised a job as a supermarket salesgirl in Côte d’Ivoire.
“Unknown to the victim and her family, she was forced into prostitution and subjected to inhumane treatment. She also disclosed that substances were administered to her and other victims by their handlers, believed to be for control and exploitation,” the statement read.
The command disclosed that the victim escaped from the brothel on April 6, 2026, and navigated through a bush path to a nearby town, where she contacted her family.
She was later assisted back to Nigeria and arrived on April 11, 2026. Upon her return, she was rushed to the State Specialist Hospital, Okitipupa, for medical attention following the physical and psychological trauma she endured.
Acting on the report, operatives of the command carried out intelligence-driven operations that led to the arrest of two suspects, Akinlaja Blessings and Johnson Ahomari, who are currently in custody and assisting with investigations.
Efforts are ongoing to apprehend the third suspect and dismantle the wider trafficking network linked to the crime.
The Commissioner of Police, Adebowale Lawal, condemned the act, describing it as inhuman and a gross violation of human dignity, assuring that all those involved would be prosecuted.
He also urged parents and guardians to thoroughly verify employment opportunities, especially those involving travel abroad, and encouraged the public to provide credible information to security agencies.
The command reiterated its commitment to safeguarding vulnerable individuals and ensuring justice is served against perpetrators of human trafficking.
