As crime rates continue to escalate in Akure, Ondo State, recent events have shed light on the disturbing reality of human trafficking and illegal immigration in the region. The Ondo State Police Command has made significant strides in addressing these issues by arresting six suspects and rescuing 14 victims in two separate cases of transnational human trafficking.
The alarming reports come as part of a broader pattern of dramatic crime incidents, including kidnapping, ritual killings, and various social vices that plague the capital city. Unfortunately, many of these occurrences often go unreported, leaving citizens unaware of the extent of the challenges facing their community.
According to a statement issued by the police spokesperson, DSP Abayomi Jimoh, the first case unfolded on January 22, 2026, when a Togolese national, Meale Yaoili, approached the Yaba Police Station in Ondo City. Yaoili reported that he was lured from Togo to Nigeria under the false pretense of securing employment in Canada. He revealed that one Tchodia Potolaw Fidel, who is currently at large, deceived him into believing he could find work abroad.
Upon arrival in Nigeria in 2019, Yaoili’s personal belongings were seized, and he was held against his will after paying the sum of 800,000 CFA francs. The police acted swiftly, apprehending six suspects connected to this despicable human trafficking incident, which included Cleude Grao, Samuel Dsiwa, Michael Amissa, Olayiwola Kazeem, Akinubi Adebayo, and Oluwole Vincent, the landlord of the premises where the illegal operation was conducted. During this operation, three victims were successfully rescued.
In a separate incident, on January 23, 2026, Chief Ojomu of Oba-Ile reported what was initially suspected to be banditry at the Oba-Ile Divisional Headquarters. However, further investigation revealed that the suspects—Umaru Baba and 11 others—were not bandits but illegal immigrants from the Republic of Chad. The principal suspect, Baba, allegedly operated as a representative of a company involved in the online marketing of various products, luring and recruiting the Chadian individuals as commission-based marketers.
The investigation has also uncovered that these individuals were transported through the Cameroonian border under dubious circumstances. Additionally, the owner of the house where the victims were housed—a female resident of Ibadan—is being traced for questioning regarding her negligence in allowing her property to be used for criminal activities.
DSP Jimoh confirmed that the suspects in both cases have provided valuable statements, and investigations are ongoing to apprehend any fleeing individuals. He noted that the rescued victims would be handed over to their respective embassies for necessary diplomatic action and repatriation.
As the Ondo State Police take action against these pressing issues, the community must remain vigilant and informed. The rising tide of crime in Akure highlights the urgent need for collective efforts to address the underlying causes of these social vices and to bring those responsible to justice.
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