Ondo Police Dismantle International Human Trafficking Syndicate Following Escape of Rescued Victim

Ondo Police arrested two suspects after a trafficked woman escaped a prostitution ring in Côte d’Ivoire and returned to Nigeria for treatment.

By: AXL Media

Published: Apr 21, 2026, 8:48 AM EDT

Source: Information for this report was sourced from Daily Post Nigeria

Deceptive Job Offers Lead to International Exploitation

The Ondo State Police Command has successfully dismantled a human trafficking syndicate that specialized in luring young women across international borders with promises of legitimate employment. According to an official statement by DSP Abayomi Jimoh, the Command’s Public Relations Officer, the investigation was launched following the disappearance of 21-year-old Akinwunmi Faith. Investigations revealed that Faith was lured to the Republic of Côte d’Ivoire on February 22, 2026, after being promised a position as a supermarket sales assistant. Instead of the promised job, she was held in inhumane conditions and forced into a life of exploitation.

A Daring Escape and Repatriation to Nigeria

The victim’s ordeal came to a turning point on April 6, 2026, when she managed to evade her captors. Faith reportedly trekked through a bush path to reach a nearby community in Côte d’Ivoire, where she was able to establish contact with her family in Nigeria. Following her successful escape, she was returned to the country on April 11. Due to the severe abuse and dehumanizing conditions she endured, she was immediately admitted to the State Specialist Hospital in Okitipupa to receive urgent medical and psychological care. Her mother, Akinwunmi Olubunmi, had previously filed a missing person report on April 13, which helped the police link the case to the trafficking syndicate.

Police Operatives Apprehend Key Syndicate Members

Acting on intelligence gathered after the victim’s return, police operatives arrested two primary suspects: Akinlaja Blessings and Johnson Ahomari. A third accomplice, identified only as Grace, remains at large and is currently the subject of an intensive manhunt. The arrested suspects are currently in police custody and are providing information to help investigators dismantle the wider network of the trafficking ring. The Command has indicated that the suspects utilized sophisticated deception techniques to bypass border security and exploit vulnerable individuals.