The Oyo State Police Command on Saturday said it has uncovered a human trafficking syndicate in Ibadan, rescuing its 83 victims.

The police public relations officer, Adewale Osifeso, disclosed this to journalists in Ibadan.

Mr Osifeso said the rescued victims comprised 57 males and 26 females, including an infant.

He, however, said further investigation into the incident was ongoing, promising to update the public accordingly.

It was gathered that the victims were rescued from a residential building in the Orogun area of Ibadan, where they had allegedly been held for an undisclosed period.

According to an anonymous source, the victims, believed to be nationals of the Democratic Republic of Congo, were allegedly brought to Nigeria under the false pretence of securing employment opportunities.

The source alleged that the traffickers extorted large sums of money in United States dollars from the victims’ parents and relatives as part of an elaborate and deceitful scheme.

(NAN)