By Desire Emmanuel
The Ondo State Police Command in a statement on Sunday, November 9, said its men dismantled a notorious sex trafficking syndicate exploiting young women under the guise of job recruitment and social media content creation and rescued 15 ladies.
The command said its operatives from the Special Weapons and Tactics (SWAT) Unit arrested a man, Jayeola Joshua, of Alagbaka, Akure, along with two other members of the syndicate, while efforts to apprehend the remaining accomplices involved in the shameful act are being intensified.
It was gathered that the syndicate used to lure their victims from across the country with promises of lucrative employment, including domestic work, ushering services, content creation and overseas placements.
They were said to have recruited 15 ladies in their last efforts and upon their arrival in Akure, the ladies, aged 20 to 26, were accommodated in an apartment in Alagbaka, which became the operational base for the commercial sex activities.
The exploitation of the ladies went on until the command received intelligence reports about the activities of the syndicate.
The command wrote: “Further inquiry revealed that the victims were manipulated into sending nude images and videos, which were subsequently transmitted to clients procuring sexual services.
“The principal suspect reportedly received the largest share of the proceeds, while the operation was disguised as producing ‘relationship content’ on social media, misleading the public and masking criminal intent.
“Evidence also indicated that the apartment was specifically rented to facilitate these activities, prompting the Commissioner of Police to direct that the landlords be invited for questioning as part of the ongoing investigation.”
The arrested members of the syndicate were said to have given more useful information to the police operatives and they are expected to be charged to court at the conclusion of investigation into their nefarious activities.
