Human trafficking: Police arrest 19 Ghanaians in Oyo

Oyo map

The Oyo State Police Command, on Sunday, announced that it had arrested 19 individuals, comprising 14 men and five women, all young nationals from Ghana, over trafficking in the state.

The command, in a statement by the state Police Public Relations Officer, Adewale Osifeso, in Ibadan, the state capital, said the suspects were arrested at Kajorepo community in the Akinyele Local Government Area of the state.

He explained that the arrest was possible based on credible intelligence related to suspicious activities at a building housing the victims.

Osifeso said following established protocols, the victims have since been handed over to the Nigerian Immigration Service for further investigations.

The PPRO said, “The state command proudly announces the successful completion of a targeted operation on July 2, 2025, based on credible intelligence related to suspicious activities at a building in the Kajorepo area of Akinyele Local Government Area.

“Around 5:30 pm, the state Intelligence Department, with the invaluable support of tactical command teams, executed a search warrant at the site, which had been securely locked from the outside.

“This operation led to the arrest of 19 individuals, comprised of 14 men and five women, all young nationals from Ghana.

“During the investigation, it became clear that these individuals had been lured to Nigeria with false promises of job opportunities, falling prey to a manipulative scheme by unknown perpetrators who exploited them for financial gain.

“The victims provided critical information about their ordeals, significantly aiding the ongoing investigations. The victims have since been handed over to the Nigerian Immigration Service for further investigations and to possibly reunite them with loved ones back in their country.”

He reiterated that the command remained dedicated to uncovering the identities of those responsible for the alarming situation, with ongoing efforts to gather intelligence and locate the individuals behind the heinous activities.