The Nigeria Police Force has rescued two Colombian women who were allegedly lured to Nigeria and held captive by a suspected human trafficking syndicate in Lagos.
The victims, identified as Maria Camila Rodas Ortiz and Yuliet Fernanda Rios Mesa, were rescued by operatives of the National Central Bureau (NCB-INTERPOL), Lagos Annex, following actionable intelligence received from INTERPOL-NCB, Bogotá.
The Force Public Relations Officer, CSP Ani Iniedu, disclosed this in a statement issued on Saturday, August 29.
According to Iniedu, the police received the intelligence on August 26, 2026, indicating that the two Colombian nationals had allegedly been deceived into travelling to Nigeria, where they were subsequently held against their will and had their travel documents confiscated.
The police said some Chinese nationals suspected of being behind the operation fled the location before officers arrived and are currently at large.
“Upon receipt of the intelligence, police operatives promptly launched a covert tracking operation, locating the hideout in Lagos where both victims were safely rescued on the same day,” the statement said.
The Force said the suspects abandoned the hideout after noticing the approaching police team, adding that efforts had been intensified to identify and apprehend all other members of the suspected trafficking network.
“The fleeing suspects abandoned the location upon sighting the approaching team, and efforts have been intensified to track down and arrest all members of the syndicate,” Iniedu said.
The police spokesperson said the rescued women are currently in safe custody and receiving the necessary care and support.
The Force added that the Colombian Embassy in Accra is working with NCB-INTERPOL to arrange hotel accommodation for the victims and secure emergency travel documents to facilitate their return to Bogotá.
