Operatives of the Nigeria Police Force, working through the National Central Bureau (NCB-INTERPOL) Lagos Annex, have rescued two Colombian nationals who were lured to the country and held captive by a suspected human trafficking syndicate, police said Saturday.
According to a statement from the Force Public Relations Officer, CSP Ani Iniedu, the operation was triggered by intelligence from INTERPOL-NCB in Bogotá on August 26, 2026, concerning two Colombian women — identified as Maria Camila Rodas Ortiz and Yuliet Fernanda Rios Mesa — who had been “fraudulently lured to Nigeria, held against their will,” with their travel documents seized by Chinese nationals who remain at large.
Police said a covert tracking operation was launched immediately after the tip was received, leading investigators to a hideout in Lagos where both women were rescued the same day. Suspects fled the location as officers closed in, and police say the manhunt for the remaining members of the syndicate has been intensified.
“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 read.
The two victims are now in protective custody and receiving support, authorities said. The Colombian Embassy in Accra is reportedly coordinating with the Bureau to arrange hotel accommodation and emergency travel documents to facilitate their return to Bogotá.
Inspector-General of Police, IGP Olatunji Rilwan Disu, used the operation to underscore the force’s commitment to tackling transnational crime.
“[The Force 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 IGP said, according to the statement.
