Operatives of the Oyo State Police Command have rescued five Congolese nationals suspected to be victims of human trafficking during a raid on a hotel in Ibadan, the Oyo State capital.
The victims were rescued at Bollarz Hotel located in the Araromi area of Ibadan by officers of the Violent Crime Response Unit (VCRU), following directives from the Oyo State Commissioner of Police based on actionable intelligence.
Police spokesperson DSP Ayanlade Olayinka confirmed the development in a statement, identifying the rescued victims as Bonsaly Mpika Donel (24), Charles Siloe (23), Eliane Ruth Makengo (26), Makota Janie Darcel (23), and Simba Babeki Elie (33), all citizens of the Republic of Congo. According to preliminary investigations, the victims disclosed that they were lured into Nigeria from Congo by a suspect identified simply as “Smith,” a national of the Republic of Benin, under the pretext of securing lucrative employment and better economic opportunities.
”During preliminary questioning, the victims disclosed that a man identified as Smith, a national of the Republic of Benin, had lured them into Nigeria on the promise of greener pastures and better economic opportunities,” DSP Olayinka stated.
The police public relations officer noted that the primary suspect fled the scene prior to the arrival of law enforcement, adding that police operatives have launched a manhunt to track down and arrest the fleeing suspect. Following their rescue, all five victims underwent preliminary medical evaluations and received necessary care.
The Commissioner of Police has subsequently directed that the rescued foreign nationals be handed over to the Oyo State Command of the Nigeria Immigration Service (NIS) for proper processing and administrative procedures.
The Oyo State Police Command reiterated its determination to stamp out human trafficking and cross-border crime across the state, appealing to members of the public to remain vigilant and report suspicious activities to security agencies.
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