The Nigeria Police Force, working alongside the INTERPOL National Central Bureau in Abuja, has captured two fugitives wanted internationally—Felix Omoregie and Okwudili Ezeje—linked to cases of human trafficking and armed robbery.

Felix Omoregie, who also goes by the alias “Eghosa Johnson Omoregie,” is a suspected human trafficking ringleader wanted by Belgian authorities. He was arrested in Benin City, Edo State. In a statement issued on Wednesday, Force Public Relations Officer Muyiwa Adejobi revealed that Omoregie had been evading justice since 2021, following his conviction in absentia in Belgium for several charges, including aggravated human trafficking and leading a criminal network.

Meanwhile, 37-year-old Okwudili Ezeje, identified as a significant member of an armed robbery syndicate based in Dubai, was apprehended in a separate operation in Nsukka, Enugu State. Adejobi said Omoregie’s syndicate trafficked young Nigerian women, including minors, to Italy, and later distributed them across various parts of Europe for sexual exploitation.

The statement said, “The Nigeria Police Force has recorded a significant breakthrough in its fight against transnational organised crime with the arrest of two internationally wanted fugitives: Felix Omoregie alias ‘Eghosa Johnson Omoregie,’ a suspected ringleader of a human trafficking syndicate wanted by Belgian authorities, and Okwudili Sabastine Ezeje, a key member of a Dubai-based armed robbery gang.

“Felix Omoregie, the alleged mastermind of a large-scale human trafficking operation, had been declared wanted by the Belgian authorities through an INTERPOL Red Notice issued on 19th December 2023, and was arrested in Benin City, Edo State, following diligent intelligence and enforcement efforts by Police operatives. He is scheduled to be arraigned at the Federal High Court in Benin City.”

He said, “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.

“His criminal network involved handlers in Brussels and France who managed the victims’ activities and remitted proceeds to him. Following a conviction in absentia in Belgium in 2021 for multiple counts of aggravated human trafficking and criminal organisation leadership, Omoregie fled to Nigeria.

“Upon his arrest, a search of his premises revealed incriminating materials, including a photocopy of a passport intended for a planned relocation to Canada.”

Adejobi said Ezeje was wanted in the United Arab Emirates for armed robbery, drug trafficking, cultism, and coordinating organised crime activities from Nigeria. He said the suspect has been directly linked to several high-profile robberies in Dubai and Sharjah, including an armed robbery at a grocery store in Dubai Mall, a targeted hit on Al Ansari Exchange in Jumeirah, and another heist at a Bureau de Change in Jebel Ali Village.

Adejobi said, “In a separate operation, the INTERPOL NCB, Abuja, apprehended 37-year-old Okwudili Sabastine Ezeje at a hideout in Nsukka, Enugu State. Ezeje is wanted by authorities in the United Arab Emirates for a series of serious crimes, including armed robbery, cultism, drug trafficking, and other organised criminal activities.

“Intelligence gathered reveals that Ezeje continued to coordinate criminal operations remotely from Nigeria. He has been directly linked to several high-profile robberies in Dubai and Sharjah, including an armed robbery at a grocery store in Dubai Mall, a targeted hit on Al Ansari Exchange in Jumeirah, and another heist at a Bureau de Change in Jebel Ali Village.

“The arrest was the result of strategic intelligence sharing and operational collaboration between the Nigeria Police Force, the Office of the National Security Adviser (ONSA), and the Dubai Police. The arraignment of Okwudili Ezeje is expected to take place shortly.”