BREAKING: Nigeria Police Arrest Two International Fugitives – Human Trafficking Kingpin and Dubai Robbery Gang Member Nabbed

 

In a major win for cross-border crime fighting, the Nigeria Police Force has successfully apprehended two high-profile international fugitives: Felix Omoregie, also known as “Eghosa Johnson Omoregie”, a suspected kingpin of a Europe-wide human trafficking syndicate, and Okwudili Sabastine Ezeje, a notorious member of a Dubai-based organized crime gang involved in armed robbery and drug trafficking.

The arrests were announced in an official statement released on Tuesday, May 7, by the Force Public Relations Officer, Assistant Commissioner of Police (ACP) Olumuyiwa Adejobi.

Felix Omoregie – Alleged Human Trafficking Ringleader Caught in Edo

According to ACP Adejobi, Felix Omoregie has been on the radar of international law enforcement agencies, particularly Belgian authorities, who issued an INTERPOL Red Notice for his arrest on December 19, 2023. After months of coordinated intelligence work and surveillance, he was finally arrested by police operatives in Benin City, Edo State.

“Omoregie is accused of trafficking young Nigerian women—including minors—to Italy and subsequently dispersing them across Europe for the purpose of sexual exploitation. Victims were subjected to voodoo-based oaths and psychological coercion, with fabricated debts ranging between €20,000 and €50,000 used to manipulate and control them,” Adejobi stated.

The suspect is believed to be the central figure in a well-structured trafficking syndicate with operational links in Brussels and France, where associates reportedly managed the day-to-day exploitation of victims and ensured proceeds from the crimes were remitted to Omoregie.

Further investigation revealed that Omoregie had previously been convicted in absentia by a Belgian court in 2021 on multiple counts, including aggravated human trafficking and criminal organization leadership. After his conviction, he fled to Nigeria to evade justice.

Upon his arrest, a search of his residence yielded critical evidence, including a photocopy of a passport intended for relocation to Canada, suggesting he was planning another escape route.

He is expected to be arraigned at the Federal High Court in Benin City in the coming days.

Okwudili Sabastine Ezeje – Dubai Robbery Suspect Tracked to Enugu Hideout

In a separate but equally significant operation, police operatives attached to the INTERPOL National Central Bureau (NCB), Abuja, apprehended 37-year-old Okwudili Sabastine Ezeje at a covert location in Nsukka, Enugu State.

“Ezeje is wanted by authorities in the United Arab Emirates (UAE) for a series of serious crimes including armed robbery, cultism, drug trafficking, and other organized criminal activities,” Adejobi said.

Intelligence reports confirm that Ezeje continued to coordinate criminal operations remotely from Nigeria, maintaining active communication with his network in the UAE.

He has been linked to several audacious heists, including:

• An armed robbery at a grocery store in Dubai Mall

• A targeted attack on Al Ansari Exchange in Jumeirah

• A violent robbery at a Bureau de Change in Jebel Ali Village

His arrest was the result of intensive intelligence sharing and collaboration between the Nigeria Police Force, the Office of the National Security Adviser (ONSA), and law enforcement agencies in Dubai.

He is currently in custody and will be arraigned soon as extradition proceedings are expected to follow.

IGP Commends Operatives, Reaffirms Nigeria’s Commitment to Global Justice

Reacting to the arrests, the Inspector-General of Police, IGP Kayode Adeolu Egbetokun, praised the officers and units involved for their exceptional professionalism and unwavering dedication.

“The Nigeria Police Force remains committed to enhancing its global policing partnerships and ensuring that fugitives find no safe haven within our borders. These arrests serve as a clear message that criminal elements, no matter how far they run or how long they hide, will be brought to justice. The Force calls on citizens to remain vigilant and cooperative in the fight against organized crime, both at home and abroad,” the IGP said, via the police spokesperson.

These arrests mark a significant milestone in Nigeria’s international law enforcement collaboration and demonstrate the country’s increasing effectiveness in tracking and apprehending fugitives involved in transnational organized crime.

Stay tuned to NaijaRush for updates on court proceedings and further developments in these high-stakes international crime cases.