Police dismantle human trafficking syndicate, rescue victims in Akwa Ibom

Operatives of the Akwa Ibom State Command have dismantled a human trafficking syndicate, rescued seven victims and arrested four suspects involved in the criminal network in the state.

Acting on credible intelligence on 13th March, 2026 at about 0800 hours, police operatives swiftly mobilised a patrol team to conduct a coordinated stop-and-search operation along Ikot Ekpene – Aba Road following reports that a vehicle conveying young persons suspected to be victims of human trafficking, the command said in a statement.

Timfon John, the command’s Spokesperson said 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.

According to the command, further investigation and interrogation of the suspect led to the expansion of the operation to Itam and Ibaka in Mbo 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 Mbo to Cameroon and Gabon with some victims,” the statement added.

The victims rescued include Asana Wohabu (F), 18 years from Cotonou, Benin Republic; Fusina Seru (F), 20 years from Cotonou, Benin Republic, and Mulica Ismali (F), 20 years from Oyo State, Nigeria.

Others include Saidat Ismali (F), 19 years from Oyo State, Nigeria; Safura Ismali (F), 20 years from Oyo State, Nigeria; Latif Ali (M), 19 years from Cotonou, Benin Republic and
Malike Michel (M) from Lome, Togo.

The suspects currently in police custody are Udeme Jacob (F), 20 years from Mbo LGA; Effiong Ekop (M) Ibiono Ibom LGA; John Okon (M) Mbo LGA, and Ndukwe Ogbonnaya (F) Bende LGA, Abia State.

The police command said that “Investigation is still ongoing. The suspects will be charged to court upon the conclusion of investigation.

“The Akwa Ibom State Police Command reiterates its commitment to combating human trafficking and other forms of organized crime, and assures members of the public that efforts are ongoing to apprehend other fleeing members of the syndicate.”