In a decisive move against transnational organized crime, the Nigeria Police Force has arrested two high-profile fugitives wanted by international authorities for heinous crimes including human trafficking and armed robbery.
Acting on an INTERPOL Red Notice, operatives tracked down Felix Omoregie, alias “Eghosa Johnson Omoregie,” in Benin City, Edo State. Omoregie, believed to be the mastermind of a major human trafficking ring, was declared wanted by the Belgian government for trafficking young Nigerian women many of them minors—to Europe for sexual exploitation. Authorities revealed the victims were subjected to ritual oaths and psychological coercion, with false debts of up to €50,000 used to keep them enslaved.
Omoregie had been convicted in absentia in Belgium in 2021 for multiple charges, including aggravated human trafficking and leading a criminal organization. A raid on his residence uncovered incriminating evidence, including a forged passport suggesting plans to flee to Canada.
In a separate but coordinated operation, INTERPOL NCB Abuja apprehended Okwudili Sabastine Ezeje, 37, in a hideout in Nsukka, Enugu State. Ezeje is wanted by the United Arab Emirates for his alleged role in a Dubai-based armed robbery gang and other violent crimes, including cultism.
The Nigeria Police Force, in a statement released on May 7, 2025 reaffirmed its commitment to international security cooperation and assured that both suspects will be processed according to existing extradition treaties and legal protocols.
“These arrests send a strong message: Nigeria is not a safe haven for international criminals,” the statement said.
