Two Colombian women allegedly lured to Nigeria and held against their will have been rescued from a suspected human trafficking hideout in Lagos State.
The Nigeria Police Force says the operation followed intelligence received from INTERPOL-NCB Bogotá on August 26, identifying the women as Maria Camila Rodas Ortiz and Yuliet Fernanda Rios Mesa.
Police say their travel documents had been confiscated by Chinese nationals suspected to be behind the operation.
Operatives of NCB-INTERPOL Lagos Annex tracked the location and rescued the women on the same day, but the suspects reportedly fled as the police team approached.
The women are now in safe custody, while the Colombian Embassy in Accra is working with Nigerian authorities to provide accommodation, emergency travel documents and facilitate their return to Bogotá.
Inspector-General of Police, Olatunji Disu, says the Force will continue to strengthen cooperation with international law-enforcement agencies to combat cross-border crime, as efforts continue to arrest the fleeing suspects and other members of the suspected syndicate.
The Chinese nationals suspected of holding the women captive remain on the run, with police intensifying efforts to track them down and arrest other members of the syndicate.
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(Editor: Terverr Tyav)
