By Patrick Titus, Uyo
Operatives of the Akwa Ibom State Police Command have rescued seven (7) victims of human trafficking and arrested four (4) suspects involved in the crime.
The breakthrough followed a credible intelligence on March 13, 2026 at about 0800 hours, which police operatives swiftly mobilized a patrol team to conduct a coordinated stop-and-search operation along Ikot Ekpene – Aba Road.
Report had it that a vehicle was conveying young persons suspected to be victims of human trafficking.
During the operation, the suspected vehicle was intercepted and four victims were immediately rescued, while the suspect conveying them was arrested and taken into custody for interrogation.
Further investigation and interrogation of the suspect led to the expansion of the operation to Itam and Ibaka in Oron Local Government Area, where three additional victims were rescued and three more suspects apprehended, bringing the total number of rescued victims to seven and suspects arrested to four.
Preliminary investigation revealed that the trafficking syndicate specializes in recruiting and transporting young persons across borders for exploitation. Intelligence gathered further disclosed that one of the ring leaders had earlier escaped through the waterways from Ibaka in Oron to Cameroon and Gabon with some victims.
The Command Police Public Relations Officer, DSP Timfon John who confirmed the action in a press statement stated that the rescued victims include: Asana Wohabu (Female), 18 years Cotonou, Benin Republic; Fusina Seru (F), 20 years Cotonou, Benin Republic; Mulica Ismali (F), 20 years Oyo State, Nigeria; Saidat Ismali (F), 19 years Oyo State, Nigeria;
Safura Ismali (F), 20 years also Oyo State, and Latif Ali (M), 19 years Cotonou, Benin Republic as well as Malike Michel (M) Lome, Togo
On the list suspects currently in police custody, according to DSP John, includes: Udeme Jacob (F), 20 years Mbo LGA; Effiong Ekop (M) Ibiono Ibom LGA; John Okon (M) Mbo LGA, all in Akwa Ibom State while Ndukwe Ogbonnaya (F) Bende LGA, of Abia State. She added that the suspects would be charged to court upon the conclusion of investigation.
Meanwhile, the state Police Command has reiterated its commitment to combating human trafficking and other forms of organized crime, assuring members of the public that efforts were ongoing to apprehend other fleeing members of the syndicate.
Residents are encouraged to remain vigilant and provide timely information to the Police to aid them in protecting vulnerable persons and strengthening community safety.
