By Ogenyi Ogenyi, Uyo
Police Operatives in Akwa Ibom have dismantled a human trafficking syndicate operating within the state, rescued four victims and arrested four suspects involved in the criminal network.r
A statement from the state PPRO, Timfon John yesterday in Uyo said the action followed credible intelligence while the victims rescued included two. Benenious, a Togolese and a Nigerian.
“On 13th March, 2026 at about 0800 hours, police operatives following credible intelligence mobilized a patrol team to ,s s a coordinated stop-and-search operation along Ikot Ekpene – Aba Road following reports that a vehicle conveying young persons suspected to be victims of human trafficking.
“During the operation, the suspected victims were immediately rescued, while the suspect conveying them was arrested and taken into custody for interrogation.
“Further investigation and interrogation of the suspect led to the expansion of the operation to Itam and Ibaka in Mbo Local Government Area where three additional victiRrms were rescued and three more suspects apprehended, bringing the totarl number of rescued
victims to seven and suspects arrested to four.
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The victims of include: Asana Wohabu and Latif Alli from, Benin Republic, Safura Ismali from Nigeria and Malike Michel from Togo while the suspects currently in police custody include Udeme Jacob, Effiong Ekop ,John Okon and Ndukwe Ogbonnaya.
The statement reiterated the commitment of the command to combating human trafficking and other forms of organized crime, and assured members of the public that efforts are ongoing to apprehend other fleeing members of the syndicate.
