The human stories behind FCID's rescue of 45 trafficking victims

FCID Rescues 45 Trafficking Victims in Major Cross-Border Operation

For 45 people whose names may never make the headlines, freedom arrived quietly. It came not with fanfare or celebration, but through the determined work of investigators who traced trafficking routes, pursued suspects across borders and rescued victims from circumstances that could have altered the course of their lives forever. On Thursday, the Force Criminal Investigation Department, FCID, Annex, Lagos, unveiled details of a series of major operational successes recorded over the past three months, with the rescue of dozens of trafficking victims underscoring the human cost of crime and the lives restored through law enforcement intervention.

Addressing journalists at the FCID Annex headquarters in Lagos, Assistant Inspector-General of Police, AIG Simeon U. Akpanuodom, described the rescue operation as one of the department's most significant achievements during the review period.

The INTERPOL rescued forty-five persons from traffickers. Four Human Trafficking Suspects were arrested, four arrested on Watchlist/Red Notice, two were arrested outside the country and brought in-country, and three persons repatriated.

— AIG Simeon U. Akpanuodom

Behind those figures are stories of vulnerable individuals who found themselves trapped in trafficking networks often built on false promises of jobs, education and better opportunities. While police did not disclose details of the victims' identities or circumstances, anti-trafficking experts note that survivors frequently endure psychological trauma, coercion and abuse before they are eventually rescued. The operation formed part of a broader crackdown by the FCID's INTERPOL unit, which also tracked fugitives across international borders and collaborated with foreign law enforcement agencies to secure arrests and repatriations.

The rescue efforts were among a series of breakthroughs highlighted by Akpanuodom as he reviewed the department's activities between March 30 and June 25, 2026. During the period, the command received 1,762 petitions, assigned 1,725 for investigation and concluded 56 cases that have since been processed in courts.

Counterfeit Skincare Operation Traced to Trade Fair Market Warehouses

Beyond trafficking, investigators uncovered what police described as a sophisticated counterfeit cosmetics operation allegedly responsible for flooding the market with fake versions of a popular skincare product. The investigation began after a petition from Flawless Cosmetics over the alleged illegal importation and counterfeiting of its trademark product, Baby Secret Cream. Following months of surveillance and intelligence gathering, detectives traced the operation to warehouses around Lagos' Trade Fair Market, recovering 331 cartons of products branded as Baby Secret Cream suspected to be counterfeit.

Some unsuspecting peddlers of the alleged counterfeit products were arrested and are assisting the investigators in locating additional storage facilities, recovering further relevant exhibits, and apprehending the fleeing mastermind of the illegal importation and counterfeiting of Baby Secret Cream.

— AIG Simeon U. Akpanuodom

Woman, Nurse Remanded Over Fake Pregnancy Scam Worth ₦16.17 Million

The department also revealed details of a case that drew public attention because of its unusual circumstances. Police arrested a 22-year-old woman, Miss Onyekachi Winner Mmerichukwu, and a nurse over allegations of obtaining money by false pretence, conspiracy, cheating and illegal procurement of abortion. According to investigators, the case stemmed from a complaint by Mr. Olajide, who alleged that his fiancée falsely claimed to be pregnant and collected money from him over several months for antenatal care, medical expenses and other pregnancy-related costs.

The total amount allegedly obtained during the period under review is Sixteen Million, One Hundred and Seventy Thousand Naira (₦16,170,000.00).

— AIG Simeon U. Akpanuodom

Police further alleged that the pregnancy was terminated at approximately five months gestation at a private hospital in Ajah, Lagos. The woman and the nurse have since been remanded at the Kirikiri Correctional Centre, while police continue efforts to apprehend the hospital's Medical Director.

Three Arrested Over Telecoms Vandalism Across Lagos State

In another operation, detectives targeted criminal networks accused of sabotaging critical national infrastructure. Acting on intelligence, operatives arrested three suspected members of a syndicate allegedly involved in vandalising telecommunications installations across Lagos State. The suspects, Ezekiel Omoloye, 46, Olaoluwa Shuwunmi, 44, and Olaleye Kehinde, 41, were arrested with items police believe were used in carrying out the attacks, including a locally made pistol, a live cartridge, solar batteries, solar panels, ropes, cutting equipment, two tricycles and two vehicles.

Preliminary investigation indicates that the recovered items were employed in the vandalism of telecommunication installations and other critical infrastructure across Lagos State.

— AIG Simeon U. Akpanuodom

While the arrests disrupted the syndicate's operations, investigators say efforts are ongoing to apprehend additional members who remain at large.

Capacity Building and Cross-Agency Partnerships Underpin the Gains

For Akpanuodom, the achievements extend beyond arrests and seizures. He pointed to growing investments in capacity building, including specialised training for detectives in cryptocurrency tracing and digital investigations through collaborations involving United States law enforcement agencies and the US Consulate General in Lagos. The department has also embarked on infrastructure upgrades and strengthened partnerships with traditional rulers, judicial officers, correctional authorities, NAFDAC, immigration officials and community leaders - collaborations he noted are essential in confronting increasingly sophisticated criminal networks that often operate across jurisdictions and borders.

As the briefing ended, the statistics remained impressive: dozens rescued, suspects arrested, counterfeit products seized and criminal networks disrupted. Yet perhaps the most powerful figure was the number 45 - forty-five individuals who escaped trafficking networks, forty-five lives given another chance, and forty-five reminders that behind every police operation are human stories of fear, survival and hope.