The Oyo State Police Command has rescued 19 Ghanaian nationals from a suspected human trafficking ring operating in Ibadan.
According to a statement released on Sunday by the police spokesperson, CSP Adewale Osifeso, the victims 14 men and 5 women were found in a building located in the Kajorepo area of Akinyele Local Government Area.
Osifeso revealed that the victims were lured from Ghana to Nigeria with false promises of job opportunities but were instead held and exploited by unknown traffickers for financial gain.
He explained that the rescue followed credible intelligence on suspicious activity in the area. A team from the State Criminal Investigation Department (CID), supported by tactical units, executed a search warrant on the building, which was locked from the outside.
“All 19 individuals, who are young Ghanaian nationals, were rescued during the operation,” Osifeso said.
The victims have since been handed over to the Nigeria Immigration Service for further investigation and to begin the process of reuniting them with their families.
Police say the victims are cooperating and have provided key information that is helping the ongoing investigation into the human trafficking network.
The command urged the public to report any suspicious movements or activities, assuring that the police remain committed to protecting lives and cracking down on human trafficking in the state.