Two Colombian women who were allegedly lured to Nigeria and held captive by a human trafficking syndicate in Lagos have been rescued, the Nigeria police force said on Saturday.
The women, identified as Maria Camila Rodas Ortiz and Yuliet Fernanda Rios Mesa, were rescued on Aug. 26 after police received intelligence from INTERPOL’s National Central Bureau in Bogota, the Police said in a statement.
The police added that the women had been brought to Nigeria fraudulently and held against their will, while their travel documents were confiscated by Chinese nationals suspected of involvement in the trafficking operation.
Police operatives tracked the victims to a hideout in Lagos and rescued them after launching a covert operation, the statement said. The suspects fled the location when they saw the approaching officers.
“Efforts have been intensified to track down and arrest all members of the syndicate,” the police said.
The victims are in police custody and receiving support, while the Colombian Embassy in Accra is working with Nigerian authorities to arrange hotel accommodation and emergency travel documents for their return to Bogota.
Inspector-General of Police Olatunji Disu said the force remained committed to protecting residents and strengthening cooperation with international law enforcement agencies to combat cross-border crime.