Sixteen Nigerians are on the International Criminal Police Organisation (INTERPOL)’s Red Notice for being wanted by nations for various crimes. 

The Nigerians, 14 males and two females, are wanted by India, France, Argentina and Canada, among others.

French authorities have been looking for 29-year-old Jessica Esohe Edosomwan since 2017 over human smuggling and prostitution, while 58-year-old Boniface Uche Egbue, born in Ahoada (Ahuda, Ehuda), a city in the Orashi region of Rivers State, located northwest of Port Harcourt, is wanted by Argentina for smuggling.

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Eneh Uzoma, 49, is wanted in Brazil for international drug trafficking, and Edem Mbuotidem Asuquo, a criminal wanted for robbery and rape in Ghana, is on INTERPOL’s Red Notice despite reports of his arrest two years ago. 

Charles Chinweikpe Ezekwem, a 29-year-old Nigerian, is wanted in Equatorial Guinea. Ezekwem hails from Okponkume community in the Ahiazu Mbaise Local Government Area of Imo state. 

Also, Uruguay is looking for Chinedu Festus Ezeunara over his links with organised crime and substance trafficking, while Benedict Okoro, a 55-year-old Nigerian, is wanted in Nicaragua. 

Akachi Vitus, Alcachi Nwokorie Stanley and Ikechukwu Malahi Obidiozor are wanted by Angolan authorities for involvement in kidnapping, robbery and illegal possession of firearms, while 49-year-old Mary Eze is wanted for suspected involvement in human trafficking in Denmark, and Bouhari Salif is wanted by authorities in China for drug smuggling. Salif is a 50-year-old native of Zinder, Niger State. 

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Canada submitted Timloh Butchang Nkem’s details to INTERPOL’s Red Notice for his alleged involvement in sexual assault. Canadian authorities also charged the 33-year-old with failure to comply with the condition of recognisance. 

Ifakemi Adeshina is wanted by Brazil for international drug smuggling, and Festus Okromi is wanted by India over criminal conspiracy. Adeshina is 52 years old, while Okromi is 57.

INTERPOL’s Red Notice lists Frankle Austine da Costa as a Nigerian wanted in India for forgery. Costa is 59 years old. Indian authorities have charged Costa with “criminal conspiracy; having possession of document knowing it to be forged and intending to use it as genuine; forgery of valuable security, will etc; forgery for purpose of cheating”.

The Red Notice is used to simultaneously alert police in INTERPOL member countries about internationally wanted fugitives. Police in other countries can then be on the watch for them and use the Red Notice to support extradition proceedings.