Operatives of the Akwa Ibom State Police Command have rescued 20 Ghanaians, comprising 10 females and 10 males, who were trafficked into the Uyo Local Government Area of the state.
The rescue operation, which took place at about 4:17 pm on Monday, August 18, 2025, was confirmed in a statement issued on Wednesday by the state Police Public Relations Officer, DSP Timfon John.
The police spokesperson said the victims were discovered inside a fenced compound in Obio Etoi Village, Uyo, following a formal request for assistance from the Ghana Police Service and the International Criminal Police Organisation (INTERPOL).
“On August 18, 2025, operatives of the command successfully rescued 20 Ghanaians trafficked to Uyo, Akwa Ibom State.
“The victims, made up of 10 males and 10 females, were rescued from a compound in Obio Etoi Village after a joint operation following a request for assistance from the Ghana Police Service and INTERPOL,” DSP John stated.
She disclosed that the victims appeared disoriented after the rescue, sparking suspicions that they may have been hypnotised by their traffickers.
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“The victims presently appear disoriented and have been unable to provide useful information, leading investigators to suspect they may have been hypnotised.
“Investigation is ongoing, and further developments will be communicated to the public as they become available,” she added.
The police assured that the victims are receiving care and that security agencies are intensifying efforts to dismantle the trafficking network responsible for smuggling the foreign nationals into Nigeria.
Human trafficking remains a major transnational crime in West Africa, with both Nigeria and Ghana identified as source, transit, and destination countries for victims of forced labour, exploitation, and ritual practices.
Authorities say this latest breakthrough highlights the growing cooperation between Nigerian security agencies, the Ghana Police Service, and INTERPOL in combating cross-border organised crime.
