Togolese-Led Suspected Human Traffickers In Ondo Police Command’s Net

By Ayodele Oni

Detectives from the Ondo State Police Command have dismantled a suspected human trafficking syndicate at Oda, arresting three suspects and rescuing several victims during a targeted security operation.

Spokesperson of the command, Abayomi Jimoh disclosed this  in a statement made available to journalists.

According to the police, investigations showed that a 30-year-old Togolese national, John Apiah, allegedly worked with two female accomplices to deceive victims with false assurances of securing foreign passports and United States visas.

The suspects were said to have obtained substantial sums in foreign currency from their victims before initially accommodating them in a hotel and later relocating them to a private residence in Oda area of Akure.

Police statement explained that “preliminary investigation revealed that sometime in June 2024, one John Apiah, male, aged 30 years, a Togolese national, came to Oda Town, Akure to work as hair stylist, where he met two young women identified as Blessings Assiah, female, aged 22 years, and Laro Larisa, female, aged 21 years.

“The trio subsequently rented a one room and palour apartment from one Owoeye, male, aged 40 years, in Oda Town.

“Further investigation showed that John allegedly used the two women to lure unsuspecting victims with promises of procuring international passports and American visas.

“In the course of this fraudulent operation, the suspect reportedly collected the sum of 600,000 CFA from Charity Paketerima, female, aged 27 years; 500,000 CFA from Mohammed Assiah, male, aged 25 years; and 500,000 CFA from Kanate Dekadja, male, aged 35 years.

“After collecting the money, the victims were initially lodged in a hotel before being moved to the suspects’ rented apartment in Oda Town, where they were kept under suspicious circumstances.

“Acting on credible intelligence, the Police promptly swung into action, leading to the rescue of the victims and the arrest of the suspects.

“The Commissioner of Police reiterated that the Command has repeatedly warned landlords and property owners to conduct proper background checks on prospective tenants and to be vigilant against allowing their premises to be used for criminal activities, stressing that such negligence would attract serious legal consequences.”