The Ondo State Police Command has uncovered and dismantled a major sex trafficking syndicate accused of exploiting young women under the pretense of job recruitment and social media content creation.

This was revealed in a statement issued on Sunday in Akure by the Command’s spokesperson, DSP Olushola Ayanlade.

According to the statement, operatives of the Special Weapons and Tactics (SWAT) team apprehended three suspects — including one Jayeola Joshua — and rescued 15 young women aged between 20 and 26 from an apartment in the Alagbaka area of Akure, where they were allegedly kept for illicit activities.

Ayanlade said the operation followed credible intelligence that exposed the group’s deceptive scheme. Preliminary investigations showed that the suspects lured young women from across Nigeria with fake job offers, including domestic work, ushering, and overseas employment.

“The syndicate operates as an organised criminal network that targets and exploits vulnerable women searching for legitimate job opportunities,” Ayanlade stated. “Further investigation revealed that the victims were coerced into producing explicit photos and videos, which were then shared with clients seeking sexual services.”

He explained that the ringleader, Joshua, allegedly took the largest share of the proceeds, disguising the operation as the creation of ‘relationship content’ for social media to conceal its illegal nature.

Following their rescue, the victims were taken to the Police Hospital in Akure for medical care, psychological evaluation, and counselling.

Ayanlade added that evidence collected during the raid confirmed the apartment had been leased specifically for the trafficking activities. Consequently, the Commissioner of Police ordered the property owner to be invited for questioning as part of ongoing investigations.

He also directed that the case be transferred to the Gender Desk Unit for thorough investigation and to ensure the victims receive full rehabilitation and reintegration support.

“The Commissioner of Police has instructed that all arrested suspects be prosecuted in accordance with the law, reaffirming the Command’s zero-tolerance stance on human trafficking and sexual exploitation,” Ayanlade said.

He further assured that the police remain committed to identifying and dismantling all criminal networks involved in such crimes across the state.

The spokesperson urged parents and guardians to always verify job offers and the credibility of recruiters before allowing their wards to travel for employment. He also encouraged the public to remain alert and share useful information that could aid the police in preventing and detecting criminal activities, emphasizing that community cooperation is key to ensuring safety and security in Ondo State.