Operatives of the National Central Bureau of INTERPOL, Lagos Annex, have rescued two Colombian nationals allegedly lured to Nigeria and held captive by a human trafficking syndicate.
The two victims, Maria Camila Rodas Ortiz and Yuliet Fernanda Rios Mesa, were rescued following actionable intelligence received from INTERPOL-NCB, Bogotá, on Wednesday, August 26, 2026.
Force Public Relations Officer, CSP Ani Iniedu, made this known in a statement released on Saturday.
The statement said the two women were “fraudulently lured to Nigeria, held against their will, and had their travel documents confiscated” by some Chinese nationals, who are currently at large.
It stated that police launched a covert tracking operation immediately after receiving the intelligence.
Police added that the INTERPOL operatives located the hideout in Lagos and rescued the victims “on the same day.”
The statement partly read, “Upon receipt of the intelligence, police operatives promptly launched a covert tracking operation, locating the hideout in Lagos where both victims were safely rescued on the same day.”
Police said the suspects fled the location when they noticed 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 police said the rescued Colombian nationals were currently in safe custody and receiving necessary support.
“The rescued victims are currently in safe custody and receiving necessary support,” the statement added.
The statement further disclosed that the Colombian Embassy in Accra was collaborating with the National Central Bureau to facilitate the victims’ return to their country.
“The Colombian Embassy in Accra is working in close collaboration with the Bureau to secure hotel accommodations for the victims and arrange emergency travel documents to ensure their safe return to Bogotá,” it said.
Inspector-General of Police, Olatunji Disu, reaffirmed the commitment of the police to protecting residents and strengthening international cooperation against transnational crimes.
The statement added that Disu “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 statement stressed that efforts had been intensified to arrest the fleeing suspects and dismantle the trafficking network.
