Ondo Police Command Rescues 40 Ghanaians From Suspected Traffickers, Arrests Three Suspects

By Ayodele Oni

The Ondo State Police Command has dismantled a transnational human trafficking syndicate operating in Akure, rescuing 40 Ghanaian nationals allegedly trafficked into Nigeria under false pretences.

In a statement issued by the Command’s Public Relations Officer, DSP Ayanlade Olayinka Olushola, the rescue operation was carried out by the Tactical Intelligence Response Squad (TIRS), following a petition forwarded through the Interpol Liaison Office at Force Headquarters in Abuja.

The petition highlighted the case of a Ghanaian citizen, David Angerinya, who was reportedly lured to Nigeria in 2024 with promises of employment. Upon investigation, the TIRS team, led by DSP Lekan Alabi, uncovered a wider trafficking operation.

Three suspects were apprehended during the raid: Hayford Nyamekye, Awine Alex, Kojo Felix.

Acting swiftly on the report, detectives from the Tactical Intelligence Response Squad, led by DSP Lekan Alabi, commenced a targeted investigation and subsequently apprehended three principal suspects.

Those arrested are Hayford Nyamekye,

Awine Alex and Kojo Felix, while the victim, David Angerinya, was successfully rescued during the operation.

State police command spokesman, Ayanlade Olusola in a statement, explained that “preliminary investigations revealed that the suspects are part of a larger transnational trafficking syndicate that specializes in deceiving unsuspecting individuals, particularly from neighboring West African countries, into travelling to Nigeria with false assurances of lucrative job opportunities and visa arrangements to Canada and other Western nations.

“Alarmingly, an additional 39 Ghanaian nationals were discovered to have fallen victim to this same network. Many of them were found without valid travel documents, while those who had any presented expired ones.

“All arrested suspects are currently in police custody and are cooperating with ongoing investigations.

“Furthermore, efforts are ongoing to apprehend the owners and caretakers of the buildings where the victims were harboured, as they may have had knowledge of or directly facilitated the illegal activities of the syndicate.

“The Commissioner of Police, CP Adebowale Lawal, has reiterated the unwavering commitment of the Ondo State Police Command to combating human trafficking and all forms of transnational organized crime.

“He urges members of the public to remain vigilant and report all suspicious movements or activities to the nearest police station or through the Command’s emergency contact lines.”