Operatives of the Nigeria Police Force attached to the National Central Bureau of INTERPOL, Lagos Annex, have rescued two Colombian women allegedly lured to Nigeria and held against their will by a suspected human trafficking syndicate.
The victims, identified as Maria Camila Rodas Ortiz and Yuliet Fernanda Rios Mesa, were rescued on Wednesday, August 26, 2026, following actionable intelligence received from the INTERPOL National Central Bureau in Bogotá, Colombia.
According to a statement issued by the Force Public Relations Officer, CSP Ani Iniedu, the women were allegedly deceived into travelling to Nigeria before being held captive and having their travel documents confiscated.
The police said some Chinese nationals suspected of being involved in the operation fled the location after sighting the approaching officers and are currently at large.
The Force said that after receiving the intelligence from INTERPOL-NCB Bogotá, its operatives immediately commenced a covert tracking operation.
The operation led them to a hideout in Lagos, where the two women were found and safely rescued on the same day.
The police said efforts had been intensified to identify, locate and arrest the remaining members of the suspected trafficking network.
The rescued women are currently in police custody and receiving necessary support, according to the authorities.
The Colombian Embassy in Accra is also working with the Nigerian police’s NCB-INTERPOL to arrange accommodation for the victims and obtain emergency travel documents to facilitate their return to Bogotá.
The operation highlights the role of international law-enforcement cooperation in tackling human trafficking and other forms of transnational organised crime.
The Nigeria Police Force said the rescue followed direct intelligence-sharing between INTERPOL offices in Colombia and Nigeria, allowing investigators to locate the victims within hours of receiving the information.
Inspector-General of Police Olatunji Rilwan Disu reaffirmed the force’s commitment to protecting residents and strengthening cooperation with international law-enforcement agencies in combating cross-border crime.
The alleged traffickers remain at large, and the police investigation is continuing.
The allegations against the suspects have not been tested in court, and the identities or number of additional members of the alleged trafficking network have not been publicly established.
