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 intelligence received from INTERPOL-NCB, Bogotá.
The Force Public Relations Officer, CSP Ani Iniedu, disclosed this in a statement issued on Saturday, August 29, 2026.
According to the police, the intelligence was received on August 26, 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 taken from them.
Following the information, NCB-INTERPOL operatives reportedly launched a covert operation to locate the women.
The police said the operation led investigators to a suspected hideout in Lagos, where the two victims were found and rescued safely.
“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 Force said some Chinese nationals suspected of being involved in the alleged operation fled the location before the arrival of the police team.
According to the police, the suspects abandoned the hideout after noticing the approaching operatives and have remained at large.
“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.”
The police said investigations and efforts to apprehend the fleeing suspects have been intensified.
CSP Iniedu added that the two rescued women are currently in safe custody and receiving necessary support from the authorities.
The Colombian Embassy in Accra is also reportedly working with NCB-INTERPOL to assist the victims.
According to the police, arrangements are being made to secure hotel accommodation for the women and obtain emergency travel documents that will enable them to return to Bogotá, Colombia.
The rescue followed intelligence cooperation between law enforcement authorities in Nigeria and Colombia, highlighting the role of INTERPOL’s international network in tracking suspected human trafficking operations across borders.
The police said efforts would continue to locate and arrest other members of the alleged syndicate.
The identities of the fleeing suspects and the full circumstances surrounding how the two women were allegedly recruited and brought to Nigeria have not yet been fully disclosed.
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