Ondo Police Dismantle Sex Trafficking Ring, Rescue 15 Young Women

The Ondo State Police Command has rescued 15 young women from a sex trafficking syndicate operating under the false pretense of job recruitment and social media content creation.

Acting on credible intelligence, operatives from the Special Weapons and Tactics (SWAT) Unit arrested Jayeola Joshua, a resident of Alagbaka, Akure, along with two accomplices allegedly linked to the criminal network.

According to police investigations, the syndicate lured victims—aged 20 to 26—from across Nigeria with promises of domestic work, ushering jobs, or overseas employment. However, upon arriving in Akure, the victims were reportedly confined in an apartment that served as the syndicate’s operational base.

Police sources revealed that the young women were coerced into sending explicit photos and videos to paying clients under the guise of creating “relationship content” for social media, effectively concealing the trafficking operation.

Police Public Relations Officer Ayanlade Olayinka confirmed that all 15 victims were taken to the Police Hospital in Akure for medical treatment, counseling, and psychological evaluation. The case has since been transferred to the Gender Desk Unit for further investigation and the safe reintegration of the victims.

Commissioner of Police, Adebowale Lawal, has ordered the immediate prosecution of all arrested suspects and directed an intensified manhunt for other members of the syndicate still at large.

He urged parents and guardians to verify job offers and recruitment claims before allowing their children to travel, while calling on the public to report suspicious activities that may be linked to human trafficking.

Opinion Nigeria News