The Ondo State Police Command of Nigeria says it has uncovered a sophisticated sex trafficking ring disguised as a job placement agency and social media content outfit in Akure, leading to the rescue of 15 young women and the arrest of three suspects.
Police Public Relations Officer, SP Olushola Ayanlade, confirmed in a statement on Sunday, November 8, 2025, that operatives of the Special Weapons and Tactics (SWAT) Unit arrested a man identified as Jayeola Joshua of Alagbaka, Akure, alongside two accomplices. Detectives are currently pursuing other members of the network believed to still be on the run.
According to investigators, the women — aged between 20 and 26 — were recruited from different states in Nigeria after being promised well-paying jobs such as ushering roles, domestic help, modelling, or even opportunities outside the country. Police say the suspects used social media platforms and targeted job search groups to lure their victims.
Ayanlade said preliminary findings show that the syndicate rented a specific apartment in Alagbaka as their operational base, where the victims were held and pressured into producing explicit content. These images and videos were then distributed to paying clients under the guise of “relationship content creation” for social media, a tactic police say was used to hide the criminal nature of the operation.
Investigators also discovered that the principal suspect allegedly took the largest share of the earnings generated from the exploitation.
As part of the ongoing probe, the Commissioner of Police has ordered that the landlords and occupants connected to the rented apartment be questioned to determine their level of involvement and whether they knowingly facilitated the crime.
The Police Command is calling on young job seekers to remain cautious, verify employment offers, and report suspicious recruitment schemes. Authorities are also urging parents, guardians, and communities to stay alert as traffickers increasingly use the internet and online advertisements to target vulnerable young people desperate for income or opportunities.
Zimbabwe Police Intensify Hunt for Suspect Who Fatally Stabbed Friend During Beer Dispute
Source:Africa Publicity
