No fewer than ten immigrants have been arrested by the police for alleged human trafficking.
The suspects were arrested at different locations along Oda Road, Akure South Local Government Area of Ondo State.
According to the state Commissioner of Police Adebowale Lawal, operatives of Ondo State Police Command on Thursday apprehended the ten foreign nationals at their respective residences along Oda Road, Akure.
He said: “These individuals were discovered to have illegally smuggled themselves into Nigeria from the Republic of Benin.
“Some of them were in possession of expired international passports, while others had no valid travel documents whatsoever.”
The commissioner disclosed that investigations revealed that these suspects criminally conspired to bring one Nzaou Yelica Christ-Olse, a 29-year-old male Congolese into Nigeria without his consent.
He said: “The victim, who was deceived under the pretense of receiving assistance to start an online business, was later abandoned by the group upon arrival.
“This act constitutes a clear violation of Nigeria’s immigration and anti-trafficking laws.”
The Commissioner of Police gave the names of the suspects as Atouh Joel, male, 37, Mohamed Atta Amidou, male, 35, Saibou Akateliwe, male, 33, Abdul Jahao, male, 26, Ndah Severin, male, 27, Kumpori Ruth, female, 19, Kumpori Martin, male, 31, Tatiana Madous Dianne, female, 32, Martias Sossa, male, 22, and Ndapola Oba Giove, male, 30.
It would be recalled that over 150 foreign nationals, .mostly Ghanaians, have been rescued from this same axis at different times by the Police and Ondo State Security Network codenamed Amotekun Corps.
They were lured to Nigeria under false pretense of assisting them in facilitating visa to Canada and united States of America (USA) for greener pastures.
However, the Police Commissioner disclosed that “the case has since been transferred to the relevant departments, including the Nigeria Immigration Service and the National Agency for the Prohibition of Trafficking in Persons (NAPTIP), for further investigation and prosecution.
“The victim is safe, in custody of the authorities, and receiving appropriate support.”
