Inside the Uyo compound: 20 Ghanaians rescued from suspected traffickers

Twenty Ghanaian nationals have been rescued from a suspected human trafficking operation in Uyo, the capital of Akwa Ibom State.

The victims, consisting of 10 men and 10 women, were found in a compound located in Obio Etoi, within Uyo Local Government Area.

The rescue operation was conducted by the Akwa Ibom State Police Command, working in collaboration with the Ghana Police Service and INTERPOL.

According to a statement from the Police Public Relations Officer, Timfon John, the operation took place on August 18, 2025, following a formal request for assistance from the Ghanaian authorities and INTERPOL.

“Acting on credible information, operatives surrounded a well-fenced building at approximately 4:17 p.m. on August 18. The raid led to the successful rescue of 20 individuals, all confirmed to be Ghanaian nationals,” the statement read.

Authorities report that the rescued individuals appeared disoriented and were unable to provide coherent accounts of their circumstances, raising suspicions that they may have been under some form of psychological manipulation or hypnosis.

Investigations into the incident are ongoing, and the police have assured the public that further updates will be provided as more information becomes available.