Victims were reportedly lured to Nigeria, stripped of travel documents; police launch manhunt for fleeing suspects…..
Operatives of the Nigeria Police Force attached to the National Central Bureau (NCB-INTERPOL), Lagos Annex, have rescued two Colombian women allegedly trafficked into Nigeria and held captive by a suspected human trafficking syndicate.
The rescue followed intelligence received from INTERPOL-NCB Bogotá on August 26, 2026, concerning the two Colombian nationals who were reportedly brought into the country under false pretences.
According to the Force Public Relations Officer, Force Headquarters, Ani Iniedu, the victims were allegedly held against their will after arriving in Nigeria, while their travel documents were confiscated by members of the syndicate.
The police said the suspects, identified as Chinese nationals, fled the location where the women were being held before officers arrived.
Acting on the intelligence, operatives of the NCB-INTERPOL Lagos Annex reportedly mounted a covert tracking operation that led them to the victims’ hideout in Lagos.
Both women were rescued on August 26 and taken into police custody, according to the Force.
The police said the suspects abandoned the premises 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 authorities said investigations and efforts to apprehend the suspects are ongoing.
The rescued women are currently being kept in a safe location and receiving the necessary assistance, the police said.
Meanwhile, arrangements are being made for their return to Colombia.
The Nigeria Police Force said the Colombian Embassy in Accra was working with the NCB-INTERPOL to provide hotel accommodation for the victims and secure emergency travel documents needed for their return to Bogotá.
The development highlights the growing importance of international cooperation in tackling trafficking networks that operate across national borders, particularly where victims are recruited in one country and transported to another under deceptive circumstances.
The Inspector-General of Police, IGP Olatunji Disu, commended the international cooperation behind the operation and reaffirmed the force’s commitment to protecting residents and combating organised crime.
Disu also pledged to strengthen collaboration with international law-enforcement agencies in the fight against transnational criminal networks operating within and through Nigeria.
The police have urged continued cooperation among law-enforcement agencies and international partners as the investigation continues and authorities work to identify and apprehend the remaining members of the suspected syndicate.
