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🇳🇬 Nigeria /Crime & Justice

Nigeria Police rescue two Colombian women held captive in Lagos

From The Punch · () English

Translated from English and summarized by DistantNews. Read the original for the full story.

At a glance

News Official statement Outcome reported
  • Nigerian police rescued two Colombian women who were allegedly lured to the country and held captive by a human trafficking ring.
  • The women were reportedly defrauded, had their travel documents confiscated, and were held against their will by Chinese nationals.
  • Authorities are intensifying efforts to apprehend the fleeing suspects and are collaborating with the Colombian Embassy to facilitate the victims' return home.

Operatives of the Nigeria Police Force have rescued two Colombian nationals, Maria Camila Rodas Ortiz and Yuliet Fernanda Rios Mesa, who were allegedly lured to Nigeria and held captive by a human trafficking syndicate. The rescue operation in Lagos followed actionable intelligence received from INTERPOL-Bogotá.

fraudulently lured to Nigeria, held against their will, and had their travel documents confiscated

— CSP Ani InieduDescribing the circumstances of the victims' captivity.

According to CSP Ani Iniedu, the Force Public Relations Officer, the women were fraudulently lured to Nigeria, had their travel documents confiscated, and were held against their will by Chinese nationals who are now at large. Upon receiving the intelligence, police operatives launched a covert tracking operation and successfully located the victims' hideout, rescuing them on the same day.

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.

— CSP Ani InieduDetailing the police response to the intelligence.

The suspects reportedly fled the location upon noticing the approaching police team. Efforts are now intensified to track down and arrest all members of the syndicate involved in the trafficking operation. The rescued Colombian nationals are currently in safe custody and receiving necessary support.

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.

— CSP Ani InieduReporting on the suspects' escape and ongoing efforts to apprehend them.

The Colombian Embassy in Accra is collaborating with the National Central Bureau to facilitate the victims' safe return to Bogotá, including securing accommodations and arranging emergency travel documents. Inspector-General of Police Olatunji Disu reaffirmed the force's commitment to protecting residents and strengthening international cooperation against transnational crimes.

The rescued victims are currently in safe custody and receiving necessary support.

— CSP Ani InieduProviding an update on the condition of the rescued women.
About this summary

Originally published by The Punch in English. Translated, summarized, and contextualized automatically by DistantNews, with a note on how the source frames the story. Not individually reviewed before publishing. How this works.

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