Police Rescue Two Colombian Women From Trafficking Syndicate in Lagos

Two Colombian women have been rescued in Lagos after they were allegedly lured to Nigeria and held against their will by a suspected human trafficking syndicate.

The victims, Maria Camila Rodas Ortiz and Yuliet Fernanda Rios Mesa, were rescued by operatives of the Nigeria Police Force attached to the National Central Bureau of INTERPOL, Lagos Annex, following intelligence from INTERPOL in Bogotá.

The police said the intelligence was received on August 26, 2026, prompting officers to begin a covert operation to trace the women and locate the place where they were being held.

The operation led investigators to a suspected hideout in Lagos, where both women were found and rescued on the same day.

According to the police, the women had been fraudulently brought to Nigeria, after which they were allegedly prevented from leaving and had their travel documents taken from them.

The police identified certain Chinese nationals as the alleged members of the syndicate responsible for holding the women. However, the suspects reportedly fled the location after noticing the approaching police team and remain at large.

The authorities have since intensified efforts to locate and arrest those believed to be behind the operation, while the rescued women have been placed in safe custody and are receiving necessary support.

The case has also drawn attention to the international nature of human trafficking, with the operation involving cooperation between Nigerian law enforcement authorities and INTERPOL-NCB, Bogotá.

The Colombian Embassy in Accra is working with the Nigerian authorities to arrange accommodation for the victims and obtain emergency travel documents that will allow them to return safely to Bogotá.

The Inspector-General of Police, IGP Olatunji Rilwan Disu, reaffirmed the Nigeria Police Force’s commitment to protecting people in the country and strengthening cooperation with foreign law enforcement agencies in the fight against cross-border crimes.

The rescue also highlights the risks faced by people who are brought across international borders through false promises and later become victims of exploitation and captivity.

For now, the focus of the investigation is on tracking down the fleeing suspects and uncovering the full extent of the trafficking network that allegedly brought the two Colombian women to Nigeria.

The police said efforts to arrest all members of the suspected syndicate are ongoing.

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