Rescue 11 victims, arrest 4 suspects

The Lagos State Police Command has dismantled a notorious trans-border child trafficking syndicate, rescuing 11 victims and apprehending four suspects linked to the recruitment and transportation of young Nigerians to Ghana for exploitation.

Lagos State Commissioner of Police , CP Olohundare Moshood Jimoh

TheCommand’s Spokesperson, CSP Benjamin Hundeyin, verified this information in a statement released on Friday. He stated that on August 13, 2025, operatives from the Ilemba Hausa Division apprehended Mustapha Abubakar, a suspected recruiter and okada operator, while in possession of a 15-year-old female victim who was about to be trafficked to Ghana for prostitution.

The case was subsequently handed over to Special Squad I of the Command, which, acting on credible intelligence, initiated a rapid and coordinated operation resulting in the apprehension of Charles Chima, 54, in Amuwo Odofin; Emmanuel Nwaka, 36, on the Lagos-Abeokuta Expressway; and Princess John, 21, in Ojota.

The investigation uncovered that the arrested suspects were part of a criminal network involved in recruiting and trafficking young women from Nigeria to Ghana. Further probes resulted in the safe rescue of 10 additional victims, aged 21 to 29.

The rescued individuals are currently under protective care, receiving support and assistance, with arrangements underway to reunite them with their families. According to Hundeyin, the suspects are currently in custody and are actively cooperating with investigators to uncover the full scope of the network.

Lagos State Police Commissioner, CP Olohundare Jimoh, commended the operatives for their prompt and professional response. He reiterated the Command’s zero-tolerance stance on human trafficking and exploitation, and encouraged the public to remain vigilant, monitor the welfare of young individuals, and report suspicious activities to the police immediately.