Police rescue 15 suspected human trafficking victims in Osun

Police Command in Osun says it has rescued 15 persons suspected to be victims of human trafficking from a three bedroom apartment in Osogbo.

9news Nigeria reports that the victims were suspected to have been trafficked from Togo, Benin Republic and Niger.

DSP Abiodun Ojelabi, the command’s spokesperson, disclosed this in a statement on Thursday in Osogbo.

According to him, the rescued victims comprise of nine females and six males, with their age ranging from 20 to 30 years.

“The Command successfully rescued 15 young persons who were victims of suspected human trafficking syndicate.

“Their rescue happened during a coordinated and intelligence led operation carried out by operatives of State Intelligence Department (SID),” Ojelabi said.

He said acting on credible information, the police rescued the victims, who were allegedly deceived with false promises of employment and better living opportunities outside their home countries.

Ojelabi said preliminary investigations revealed that the victims were brought from Togo, Benin Republic and Niger, and kept inside a three bedroom apartment at Adeleke Estate, Osogbo, under suspicious circumstances before the police intervention.
He said the victims were currently receiving necessary attention and protective care, saying the command is collaborating with relevant authorities to ensure their proper rehabilitation and to reunite them with their families.

He stated that suspect(s) connected to the criminal act have absconded, but stated that the command is on their trail.

Ojelabi, however, said the agent that gave out the apartment where the suspected traffickers kept their victims, has been arrested, and he is assisting the police in the ongoing investigations.

He said the state Commissioner of Police, Ibrahim Gotan, reassures residents of the command’s commitment to combating human trafficking and other forms of organised crime.

He urged parent, guardians and house owners to remain vigilant and report suspicious movements or any form of human recruitment schemes to the nearest security agents.