The Nigeria Police Force has rescued two Colombian nationals allegedly trafficked to Nigeria and held captive in Lagos by a suspected human trafficking syndicate.
The victims, identified as Maria Camila Rodas Ortiz and Yuliet Fernanda Rios Mesa, were rescued by operatives of the National Central Bureau (NCB)-INTERPOL, Lagos Annex, following intelligence received from INTERPOL-NCB, BogotĂĄ.
The rescue operation, according to the police, followed intelligence received on August 26, 2026, concerning the alleged trafficking and unlawful detention of the two Colombian women.
The police said the victims were fraudulently lured to Nigeria by members of the suspected trafficking network. Upon their arrival, their travel documents were allegedly confiscated by some Chinese nationals suspected to be members of the syndicate.
According to a statement issued on Saturday by the Force Public Relations Officer, CSP Ani Iniedu, operatives immediately commenced a covert tracking operation after receiving the intelligence.
The operation eventually led the police to a criminal hideout in Lagos where the two women were allegedly being held captive.
âUpon 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,â Iniedu stated.
The police said the suspected traffickers fled the location after sighting the approaching operatives, preventing their immediate arrest.
The Force said efforts have since been intensified to identify, locate and arrest all members of the suspected syndicate, including the Chinese nationals alleged to have confiscated the victimsâ travel documents.
The rescued women are currently in the custody of the authorities and are receiving necessary care and support, according to the police.
The Colombian Embassy in Accra is also collaborating with the NCB-INTERPOL to provide temporary accommodation for the victims and obtain emergency travel documents required to facilitate their return to BogotĂĄ, Colombia.
The Nigeria Police Force described the operation as a significant breakthrough in the fight against transnational organised crime and human trafficking, particularly crimes involving the movement and exploitation of foreign nationals.
The Inspector-General of Police, Olatunji Rilwan Disu, reaffirmed the commitment of the Force to protecting residents and strengthening cooperation with international law enforcement agencies in tackling cross-border criminal activities.
The police also appealed to members of the public and international partners to continue providing timely and actionable intelligence that could assist security agencies in identifying trafficking networks and dismantling criminal organisations operating within Nigeria.