The Nigeria Police Force has rescued two Colombian nationals allegedly trafficked to Nigeria and held captive by a human trafficking syndicate in Lagos State.

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 actionable 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.

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According to the police, the intelligence was received on August 26, 2026, indicating that the two Colombian women had been fraudulently lured to Nigeria and subsequently held against their will.

The police said the victims’ travel documents were also allegedly confiscated by some Chinese nationals suspected to be members of the trafficking syndicate.

Following receipt of the intelligence, operatives of the NCB-INTERPOL Lagos Annex launched a covert tracking operation to locate the victims and their captors.

The operation led the police to a suspected criminal hideout in Lagos, where both Colombian nationals were safely rescued on August 26.

The police said the suspected traffickers fled the location after sighting the approaching operatives, abandoning the hideout.

The Force said efforts had been intensified to track down and arrest the fleeing suspects and other members of the alleged syndicate.

The rescued victims are currently in safe custody and receiving necessary support, according to the police.

The Colombian Embassy in Accra is reportedly collaborating with the Nigeria Police Force through the Bureau to arrange hotel accommodation for the victims and secure emergency travel documents for their safe return to Bogotá, Colombia.

The Inspector-General of Police, Olatunji Rilwan Disu, reaffirmed the commitment of the Nigeria Police Force to protecting the lives and property of residents in Nigeria.

Disu also emphasised the importance of strengthening collaboration with international law enforcement agencies in the fight against human trafficking and other forms of transnational organised crime.

The latest operation highlights the growing cooperation between Nigerian and international law enforcement agencies in tackling cross-border criminal networks and protecting victims of human trafficking.

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