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Ondo State Police Command has uncovered a s*x trafficking network operating under the disguise of a job recruitment and social media content creation agency.
Gatekeepers Newspaper reports that in a statement released on Saturday, Ayanlade Olushola, the Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO), said the breakthrough came after weeks of discreet surveillance triggered by reports of young women being lured to Akure, the state capital, with fake promises of employment.
Olushola said, “Acting on credible intelligence, operatives of the Command’s Special Weapons and Tactics (SWAT) Unit raided an apartment in the Alagbaka area of Akure, arresting one Jayeola Joshua and two accomplices, while others linked to the syndicate are still on the run.”
According to the police, the victims—15 young women aged between 20 and 26—were brought from different parts of the country under false pretences of job offers, including domestic work, ushering, and overseas employment. Upon their arrival, they were lodged in a rented apartment that served as the syndicate’s operational base.
Further investigations revealed that the victims were coerced into sharing nude photos and videos, which were then distributed to clients seeking s*xual services. The suspects allegedly posed as social media influencers producing “relationship skits” to disguise their criminal activity.
The PPRO noted, “The principal suspect, Jayeola Joshua, controlled the proceeds from the illicit business while misleading the victims into thinking they were engaged in legitimate work.”
Olushola added that the apartment used for the operation was specifically rented for trafficking, and the state’s Commissioner of Police, Adebowale Lawal, has directed that the landlords be questioned to determine their level of involvement.
All 15 victims have been taken to the Police Hospital in Akure for medical care, psychological evaluation, and counselling. The case has been handed over to the command’s gender desk unit for continued investigation and rehabilitation of the victims.
Olushola said, “The Commissioner of Police has instructed that all arrested suspects be prosecuted, while the manhunt for fleeing members of the syndicate continues.”
He advised parents and guardians to verify the authenticity of job offers and recruitment agencies before allowing their children to travel and urged residents to promptly report suspicious activities to security agencies.
According to him, community vigilance remains essential in curbing such criminal enterprises.
