Operatives of the Nigeria Police Force have rescued two Colombian nationals who were allegedly lured to Nigeria and held captive by a human trafficking syndicate operating in Lagos.

The victims, identified as Maria Camila Rodas Ortiz and Yuliet Fernanda Rios Mesa, were freed on August 26, 2026, following intelligence shared by INTERPOL’s National Central Bureau in Bogotá.

According to a statement by the Force Public Relations Officer, police officers attached to the National Central Bureau (NCB-INTERPOL), Lagos Annex, tracked the women to a hideout in Lagos after receiving actionable intelligence that they had been brought into the country under false pretenses.

Police said the women’s travel documents were seized by some Chinese nationals, who fled the scene on sighting security operatives. The suspects are currently at large, and a manhunt has been launched to arrest all members of the syndicate.

Both women are now in safe custody and receiving support from the police. The statement added that the Colombian Embassy in Accra is working with the NCB to secure hotel accommodation for them and process emergency travel documents for their return to Bogotá.

Confirming the rescue, the Inspector-General of Police, IGP Olatunji Rilwan Disu, psc (+), NPM, said the operation reflects the Force’s commitment to protecting lives and tackling cross-border crime.

“The Nigeria Police Force remains unwavering in its duty to safeguard all residents in Nigeria, and we will continue to deepen collaboration with international law enforcement partners to dismantle criminal networks,” IGP Disu stated.

The police urged members of the public to provide credible information that could lead to the arrest of the fleeing suspects.