Ondo State Police Command has dismantled a notorious sex trafficking syndicate that allegedly exploited young women under the guise of job recruitment and social media content creation.
This was disclosed in a statement released on Sunday in Akure by the command’s spokesperson, DSP Olushola Ayanlade.
According to the statement, one Jayeola Joshua and two other suspects were arrested, while 15 young women, aged between 20 and 26, were rescued from an apartment in the Alagbaka area of Akure, where they were being housed for illicit activities.
Ayanlade explained that operatives of the Special Weapons and Tactics, SWAT, team carried out the operation that led to the arrest, adding that efforts were ongoing to apprehend other members of the syndicate still at large.
Preliminary investigations, he said, revealed that the syndicate lured young women from across the country with fake promises of lucrative employment opportunities, including domestic work, ushering jobs, and foreign placements.
He said, “The syndicate’s operations exposed a deeply organised network of criminals who exploit the vulnerabilities of unsuspecting young women in search of legitimate means of livelihood. Further investigations showed that victims were coerced into sharing nude photos and videos, which were later sent to clients requesting sexual services.
“The principal suspect, Jayeola Joshua, reportedly took the largest share of the proceeds, while the entire scheme was disguised as producing ‘relationship content’ for social media—an attempt to mask the criminal nature of their activities.”
Following the rescue, the victims were taken to the Police Hospital in Akure for medical treatment, psychological assessment, and counselling.
Ayanlade revealed that evidence gathered during the investigation showed the apartment was rented specifically to carry out the illicit activities.
Consequently, the Commissioner of Police, CP, directed that the property owner be invited for questioning as part of the ongoing probe.
He added that the CP has ordered the immediate transfer of the case to the Gender Desk Unit for detailed investigation and to ensure that the victims receive proper rehabilitation and reintegration support.
“The Commissioner of Police has also given a firm directive that all arrested suspects must be prosecuted in line with the law, as part of the command’s zero-tolerance approach to human trafficking and sexual exploitation,” Ayanlade said.
He reaffirmed the command’s commitment to dismantling all criminal networks involved in trafficking and exploitation within the state.
The police spokesperson also advised parents and guardians to verify job offers and recruitment agents before allowing their children or wards to travel for employment.
He also called on members of the public to remain vigilant and share credible information that could help prevent and detect criminal activities, stressing that community partnership remains vital to maintaining safety and security in Ondo State.
