Nigeria Police operatives attached to the Interpol National Central Bureau have rescued two Colombian women who were lured to Lagos and held captive by a human trafficking syndicate.
The victims, identified as Maria Camila Rodas Ortiz and Yuliet Fernanda Rios Mesa, were brought to Nigeria under false pretences by some Chinese nationals who later seized their travel documents. Acting on intelligence shared by Interpol’s office in Bogotá, officers tracked the location and rescued the women on the same day the tip came in.
The suspects fled the hideout when the police arrived. Efforts are currently underway to track and arrest members of the syndicate.
The rescued women are now in safe custody and receiving support. The Colombian Embassy in Accra is working with authorities to provide them with temporary accommodation and emergency travel documents so they can return home safely.
The Inspector-General of Police has restated the Force’s commitment to protecting everyone in the country and strengthening international cooperation against cross-border crimes.
