Okwudili Sabastine Ezeje, a prominent member of an armed robbery gang based in Dubai, and Felix Omoregie, also known as “Eghosa Johnson Omoregie,” a suspected ringleader of a human trafficking syndicate sought by Belgian authorities, have both been apprehended by the Nigeria Police Force.
ACP Muyiwa Adejobi, the Police Force Spokesperson, reportedly announced this in a statement on Wednesday.
After police officers’ diligent intelligence and enforcement efforts, Felix Omoregie, the suspected mastermind of a massive human trafficking operation, was apprehended in Benin City, Edo State, after Belgian authorities issued an INTERPOL Red Notice on December 19, 2023, declaring him wanted. At Benin City’s Federal High Court, he is expected to be arraigned.
Omoregie is charged with smuggling young Nigerian women, including children, into Italy and then distributing them throughout Europe for the purpose of sexual exploitation. The victims were manipulated and controlled by false debts ranging from €20,000 to €50,000, and they were subjected to psychological coercion and voodoo-based oaths. Handlers in France and Brussels were part of his criminal network; they oversaw the victims’ activities and sent him the money. Omoregie escaped to Nigeria after being convicted in absentia in Belgium in 2021 on several charges of aggravated human trafficking and criminal organization leadership. A search of his home after his detention turned up incriminating documents, including a photocopy of a passport meant for a planned move to Canada.
In another operation, Okwudili Sabastine Ezeje, 37, was captured at a hiding place in Nsukka, Enugu State, by the INTERPOL National Central Bureau (NCB), Abuja. For a number of significant offenses, including drug trafficking, cultism, armed robbery, and other organized criminal operations, Ezeje is wanted by the United Arab Emirates (UAE) police. According to intelligence acquired, Ezeje persisted in using Nigeria to remotely organize illegal activities. A number of high-profile thefts in Dubai and Sharjah have been directly linked to him, including a targeted attack on Al Ansari Exchange in Jumeirah, an armed robbery at a food store in Dubai Mall, and another heist at a Bureau de Change in Jebel Ali Village.
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The arrest was the consequence of strategic intelligence sharing and operational cooperation between the Dubai Police, the Office of the National Security Adviser (ONSA), and the Nigeria Police Force, according to the statement. Okwudili Ezeje’s arraignment is anticipated to happen soon.
IGP Kayode Adeolu Egbetokun, Ph.D., NPM, the Inspector-General of Police, praises all of the officers who participated in these well-publicized arrests for their professionalism, hard work, and commitment to fulfilling Nigeria’s duties under international law enforcement. In order to prevent fugitives from finding refuge within our borders, the Nigeria Police Force is still dedicated to strengthening its international policing collaborations. The message conveyed by these arrests is unequivocal: criminal elements will be apprehended regardless of how far they run or how long they hide. In the fight against organized crime, both domestically and internationally, the Force urges civilians to continue being watchful and helpful.
