The Ondo State Police Command says it has successfully dismantled a notorious sex trafficking network that lured unsuspecting young women into sexual exploitation under the pretext of employment offers and social media content production.
This was disclosed in a statement issued on Sunday in Akure by the command’s spokesperson, Olushola Ayanlade, who confirmed the arrest of one Jayeola Joshua and two others linked to the syndicate. Fifteen victims, all women between the ages of 20 and 26, were rescued from an apartment in the Alagbaka area of Akure, where they were allegedly housed for illicit activities.
According to Ayanlade, the operation, carried out by the command’s Special Weapons and Tactics (SWAT) unit, followed a sustained intelligence-driven investigation into a web of deceit used by the traffickers to lure victims from across Nigeria.
He revealed that the syndicate promised the victims lucrative jobs, including domestic service, ushering, and overseas employment, only to coerce them into prostitution and the creation of explicit content marketed to clients online.
“Further inquiry uncovered that the victims were manipulated into sending nude images and videos, which were later sent to clients procuring sexual services,” Ayanlade stated. “The principal suspect received the largest share of the proceeds, disguising the entire operation as a ‘relationship content’ production for social media to mislead the public and conceal the crime.”
The victims, he said, have been taken to the Police Hospital in Akure for medical attention, psychological evaluation, and counselling. He added that the apartment used for the criminal operation was deliberately rented for the illicit business, prompting the Commissioner of Police (CP) to order the landlord’s invitation for questioning.
The CP has also directed that the case be transferred to the command’s Gender Desk for further investigation and the reintegration of the victims into society. He further ordered the prosecution of all arrested suspects to underscore the command’s zero-tolerance policy on human trafficking and sexual exploitation.
“This reaffirms the command’s commitment to dismantling organised criminal networks involved in trafficking and sexual abuse,” Ayanlade said. “The CP has also urged parents and guardians to thoroughly verify job offers and recruitment agents before allowing their wards to travel, while encouraging the public to remain vigilant and provide credible information to aid law enforcement.”
The Ondo State Police Command reaffirmed that sustained community cooperation remains essential in the fight against human trafficking and other crimes threatening public safety.
