The Nigeria Police Force has arrested two international fugitives—Felix Omoregie and Okwudili Ezeje—wanted in Belgium and the United Arab Emirates, respectively, for involvement in serious transnational crimes including human trafficking and armed robbery.
Felix Omoregie, also known as “Eghosa Johnson Omoregie,” was captured in Benin City, Edo State. He had been convicted in absentia in Belgium in 2021 on multiple counts of aggravated human trafficking and leading a criminal organisation. According to Force Public Relations Officer Muyiwa Adejobi, Omoregie’s syndicate trafficked young Nigerian women and minors to Italy, before spreading them across Europe for sexual exploitation. Victims were subjected to psychological control through voodoo rituals and forced to repay fabricated debts ranging between €20,000 and €50,000.
Authorities say his network had handlers in France and Brussels who coordinated the victims’ activities and funnelled the proceeds back to him. The suspect fled to Nigeria after his conviction, but was tracked and apprehended following an INTERPOL Red Notice issued in December 2023. A search of his home yielded evidence, including a photocopy of a passport intended for relocation to Canada. He is expected to be arraigned at the Federal High Court in Benin City.
In a separate operation, police arrested 37-year-old Okwudili Ezeje in Nsukka, Enugu State. Ezeje is wanted in the UAE for his role in a notorious Dubai-based criminal gang involved in armed robbery, drug trafficking, cult-related violence, and other organised crimes.
Investigations revealed that Ezeje remained active in orchestrating crimes from Nigeria, despite being sought for his involvement in a series of high-profile robberies in Dubai and Sharjah. These include a grocery store attack in Dubai Mall, a robbery at Al Ansari Exchange in Jumeirah, and a heist at a Bureau de Change in Jebel Ali Village.
His arrest was made possible through coordinated intelligence sharing between the Nigeria Police, the Office of the National Security Adviser, and Dubai Police. Ezeje’s arraignment is also expected to take place in the near future.
