Police save two Colombian women held captive in Lagos

The Nigeria Police Force, working with INTERPOL, has rescued two Colombian women who were brought to Nigeria and held captive by a human trafficking group.

The victims are Maria Camila Rodas Ortiz and Yuliet Fernanda Rios Mesa. They were rescued after police got reliable information from INTERPOL-NCB in Bogotá on Wednesday, August 26, 2026.

CSP Ani Iniedu, the Force Public Relations Officer, shared this news in a statement on Saturday.

The statement mentioned that the women were “fraudulently lured to Nigeria, held against their will, and had their travel documents taken” by some Chinese nationals who are still on the run.

After receiving the intelligence, the police quickly started a secret tracking operation. They found the location in Lagos and rescued the women “on the same day.”

The statement included, “Upon receipt of the intelligence, police operatives promptly launched a covert tracking operation, locating the hideout in Lagos where both victims were safely rescued on the same day.”

According to the police, the suspects ran away when they saw the police coming.

“The fleeing suspects abandoned the location upon sighting the approaching team, and efforts have been intensified to track down and arrest all members of the syndicate,” the statement said.

The rescued women are now in a safe place and getting the help they need.

“The rescued victims are currently in safe custody and receiving necessary support,” the statement added.

The Colombian Embassy in Accra is working with the National Central Bureau to help the women return home.

“The Colombian Embassy in Accra is working in close collaboration with the Bureau to secure hotel accommodations for the victims and arrange emergency travel documents to ensure their safe return to Bogotá,” it said.

The Inspector-General of Police, Olatunji Disu, assured the public that the police are committed to protecting everyone and enhancing international teamwork against crimes that cross borders.

The statement said Disu “reaffirms the unwavering commitment of the Nigeria Police Force to safeguarding the lives and property of all residents within the country, while deepening collaboration with international law enforcement partners to combat cross-border crimes.”

The police are also focusing on catching the suspects and breaking down the trafficking network.