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The Oyo State Police Command has rescued 19 Ghanaian nationals—14 men and 5 women—from a suspected human trafficking operation in the Kajorepo area of Akinyele Local Government Area in Ibadan.
In a statement issued on Sunday, the Command’s Public Relations Officer, CSP Adewale Osifeso, revealed that the victims were lured into Nigeria with false promises of lucrative job opportunities, only to be trapped and exploited by unknown traffickers for financial gain.
According to Osifeso, the rescue operation was launched following credible intelligence pointing to suspicious activity at a residential building that had been locked from the outside, indicating possible confinement.
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“The State Criminal Investigation Department (CID), supported by tactical command teams, executed a search warrant at the location. This led to the discovery and rescue of 19 Ghanaian nationals—14 men and five women—who were being held under suspicious circumstances,” the statement read.
Preliminary investigations revealed that the victims were deceived with the promise of employment in Nigeria, only to find themselves trapped in a trafficking scheme. They were unable to leave the premises and had no access to legal employment or support.
The rescued individuals are said to have provided valuable information to investigators, which is aiding efforts to identify and apprehend the masterminds behind the operation.
The rescued Ghanaians have since been handed over to the Nigerian Immigration Service in line with established protocols for possible repatriation and reunification with their families.
“The Oyo State Police Command is working closely with immigration and international partners to ensure that those responsible are brought to justice,” CSP Osifeso added.
The Command urged members of the public to be vigilant and to report any suspicious activities, especially involving foreign nationals or suspicious buildings, to the nearest police station.
This incident underscores the growing concern over cross-border human trafficking within West Africa and highlights the need for enhanced regional cooperation to tackle the menace.
Authorities in both Ghana and Nigeria are expected to coordinate efforts to investigate and dismantle the trafficking networks exploiting vulnerable individuals across the subregion.
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