Ondo: Police Arrest S£x Trafficking Syndicate, Rescue 15 Young Girls
THECONSCIENCE NG reports that the Ondo State Police Command has dismantled a notorious sex trafficking syndicate that lured and exploited young women under the guise of job recruitment and social media content creation.
The command’s spokesperson, DSP Olushola Ayanlade, disclosed this in a statement made available to newsmen on Sunday in Akure.
According to Ayanlade, one Jayeola Joshua and two others were arrested in connection with the crime, while 15 young women, aged between 20 and 26, were rescued from an apartment in the Alagbaka area of Akure, where they were allegedly being used for illicit activities.
He said the suspects were apprehended by operatives of the Special Weapons and Tactics (SWAT) unit, adding that efforts were ongoing to track down other fleeing members of the syndicate.
Preliminary investigations, Ayanlade noted, revealed that the syndicate lured victims from across the country with fake promises of lucrative jobs such as domestic work, ushering services, and overseas employment opportunities.
“Further inquiry uncovered that the victims were manipulated into sending nude images and videos, which were later transmitted to clients procuring sexual services,” Ayanlade said.
“The principal suspect reportedly took the largest share of the proceeds, disguising the operation as a social media ‘relationship content’ production to deceive the public and conceal its criminal intent.”
He added that all 15 rescued victims were taken to the Police Hospital, Akure, for medical attention, psychological evaluation, and counselling.
The spokesperson further revealed that evidence showed the apartment used by the syndicate was rented specifically for the illegal operations. Consequently, the Commissioner of Police (CP) ordered that the landlord be invited for questioning as part of the ongoing investigation.
Ayanlade stated that the CP also directed that the case be transferred to the Gender Desk Unit for further investigation and for the counselling and reintegration of the victims into society.
“The CP has issued a marching order that all arrested suspects must be prosecuted to reaffirm the command’s zero-tolerance stance on human trafficking and sexual exploitation,” he said.
The statement also urged parents and guardians to verify job offers and recruitment agents before allowing their children to travel.
The CP, according to Ayanlade, called on members of the public to remain vigilant and to provide credible information that can assist the police in preventing and combating crime across the state, emphasizing the importance of community partnership in ensuring public safety.
