Ondo Police arrest Togolese, two foreigners over human trafficking and visa scam

Operatives of the Ondo State Police Command have arrested a 30-year-old Togolese national, John Apiah, alongside two other foreigners, for allegedly engaging in human trafficking and visa scams in the state.

The suspects—Blessings Assiah, 22, and Laro Larisa, 21—were apprehended in the Oda axis of Akure South Local Government Area following intelligence reports of suspicious activities in the area.

According to the Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO), Jimoh Abayomi, Apiah reportedly used the two female accomplices to lure victims into Nigeria under the pretense of helping them secure international passports and American visas.

“The three victims—Kanate Dekadja, 35, Charity Paketerima, 27, and Mohammed Assiah, 25—were allegedly extorted for 1.6 million CFA francs,” Abayomi said.

The victims were rescued from an apartment in Oda town, where they were reportedly kept under suspicious conditions.

The PPRO added that the Ondo Police Commissioner has repeatedly warned landlords and property owners to conduct thorough background checks on tenants, stressing that failure to do so may make them complicit in criminal activities.

“Negligence in allowing premises to be used for criminal activities will attract serious legal consequences,” Abayomi said.

The arrests highlight ongoing efforts by law enforcement in Ondo to combat human trafficking and fraudulent visa schemes, which have increasingly targeted vulnerable individuals seeking opportunities abroad.