The Nigeria Police Force has captured two men who were wanted in Belgium and Dubai. One of them, Felix Omoregie, also known as “Eghosa Johnson Omoregie,” is accused of running a human trafficking network. The other, Okwudili Sabastine Ezeje, is linked to an armed robbery gang in Dubai.
According to a police statement released on May 7, police spokesperson ACP Olumuyiwa Adejobi said Felix was wanted by Belgian authorities. INTERPOL had issued a Red Notice for him on December 19, 2023. He was found and arrested in Benin City, Edo State, after careful tracking and investigation by police officers. He will be taken to the Federal High Court in Benin City soon.
‘’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 organization 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.
In a different operation, the INTERPOL National Central Bureau in Abuja arrested 37-year-old Okwudili Ezeje. He was hiding in Nsukka, Enugu State, and was caught with the help of local and international police efforts.
‘’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. 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.”
Adejobi explained that this arrest was made possible through strong cooperation between the Nigeria Police Force, the Office of the National Security Adviser (ONSA), and the Dubai Police. Okwudili will also be arraigned in court shortly.
The Inspector-General of Police, Kayode Adeolu Egbetokun, praised the officers who carried out these arrests. He said they showed high levels of skill, hard work, and commitment to international justice and law enforcement.
‘’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 statement read
