The Nigeria Police Force has recovered two Colombian women who were allegedly enticed to Nigeria and kept as captives by a human trafficking organization in Lagos.
The victims, identified as Maria Camila Rodas Ortiz and Yuliet Fernanda Rios Mesa, were rescued by agents of the National Central Bureau (NCB-INTERPOL), Lagos Annex following actionable intelligence from INTERPOL-NCB, Bogotá.
This was reported in a statement published today by the Force Public Relations Officer, CSP Ani Iniedu.
The intelligence was acquired on August 26, 2026, that the two Colombian nationals were fraudulently enticed to Nigeria, where they were allegedly kept against their will and stripped of their travel passports, Iniedu said.
The police said the operation was believed to have been carried out by Chinese nationals who fled the scene before officers arrived and are now at large.
“Immediately after the receipt of the intelligence, police operatives swung into action and traced the hideout in Lagos where both victims were rescued safely same day,” the statement read.
On sighting the approaching squad of policemen, the suspects abandoned the hideout, the Force said, adding that efforts had been escalated to catch additional members of the syndicate.
“The fleeing suspects left the place when they saw the team coming and we have stepped up efforts to track down and arrest all members of the syndicate,” Iniedu said.
The police said the rescued women are secure and they are being provided with the appropriate care.
The Force said the Colombian Embassy in Accra was working with the NCB-INTERPOL in arranging hotel accommodation for the victims and securing emergency travel permits for their repatriation to Bogotá.
Inspector-General of Police, IGP Olatunji Rilwan Disu, restated the commitment of the police to safeguard people and improve international cooperation in the fight against transnational crimes. Tactical Gear Adventure
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