The Nigeria Police Force has successfully apprehended two internationally wanted fugitives, marking a major breakthrough in ongoing efforts to tackle transnational crime. The suspects — Felix Omoregie, also known as “Eghosa Johnson Omoregie,” and Okwudili Sabastine Ezeje — were picked up in separate operations carried out in Edo and Enugu States.
This was disclosed in a statement released on Wednesday by the Police Force spokesperson, ACP Muyiwa Adejobi.
Felix Omoregie, described as the alleged mastermind behind a vast human trafficking syndicate, had been placed on INTERPOL’s Red Notice at the request of Belgian authorities on 19th December 2023. Acting on intelligence, police operatives tracked him down to Benin City, Edo State, where he was taken into custody.
He faces grave accusations of trafficking young Nigerian women, including minors, to Italy before moving them across various European countries for sexual exploitation. According to reports, his victims were subjected to voodoo rituals and psychological manipulation, with false debts ranging between €20,000 and €50,000 imposed on them to enforce compliance. Omoregie’s network reportedly extended to Brussels and France, where accomplices managed the victims and sent illicit proceeds back to him.
It was further revealed that Omoregie had earlier been convicted in absentia in Belgium in 2021 for several counts of aggravated human trafficking and heading a criminal organization. After fleeing to Nigeria, he remained a fugitive until his recent arrest. A search of his residence uncovered damning evidence, including a photocopy of a passport allegedly intended for a future escape to Canada.
In a separate operation, the INTERPOL National Central Bureau (NCB) in Abuja arrested 37-year-old Okwudili Sabastine Ezeje at a hideout in Nsukka, Enugu State. Ezeje is wanted by law enforcement in the United Arab Emirates (UAE) for involvement in serious offenses such as armed robbery, cultism, drug trafficking, and other organized crimes.
Authorities revealed that Ezeje continued directing criminal operations from Nigeria despite being on the run. He has been linked to several high-profile heists in Dubai and Sharjah, including an armed robbery at a grocery store in Dubai Mall, a daring operation targeting Al Ansari Exchange in Jumeirah, and another incident at a Bureau de Change located in Jebel Ali Village.
The Police Force confirmed that the arrests were achieved through coordinated intelligence efforts and collaboration with global partners. The official statement reads: “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.”
The Inspector-General of Police, IGP Kayode Adeolu Egbetokun, Ph.D., NPM, lauded the police operatives for their professionalism and commitment to international policing standards. According to him, “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.”
