The Ondo State Police Command has dismantled a suspected human trafficking network in Okitipupa, leading to the rescue of a young woman allegedly lured abroad and forced into sex work.
The command’s spokesperson, DSP Abayomi Jimoh, disclosed this in a statement on Monday, noting that the breakthrough was recorded under the supervision of the Commissioner of Police, Adebowale Lawal.
The case was brought to the attention of the police on April 13, 2026, when the victim’s mother reported at the Okitipupa Division that her daughter had been taken out of the country under false pretences of securing employment.
Preliminary findings showed that the 21-year-old was taken to Côte d’Ivoire in February by a group of suspects who had promised her a job, but instead subjected her to sexual exploitation.
“The victim was made to engage in prostitution under harsh conditions and was reportedly given substances believed to be used to control her and other victims,” the statement read.
Police said the young woman escaped captivity on April 6 and managed to reach a safer location where she contacted her relatives, who facilitated her return to Nigeria days later.
“She arrived in the country on April 11 and was rushed to a hospital in Okitipupa for urgent treatment following the trauma she experienced,” the statement added.
The police confirmed the arrest of two suspects linked to the crime, while a third accomplice is still on the run, assuring that efforts are ongoing to bring all those involved to justice while warning the public to be wary of suspicious overseas job offers.