Police Rescue 30 Foreign Nationals, Dismantle Cross-Border Human Trafficking Syndicate

The Nigeria Police Force has said it has recorded a major breakthrough in the fight against transnational organised crime following the dismantling of a human trafficking and fraudulent exploitation syndicate operating within the Federal Capital Territory and neighbouring communities.

A statement signed by DCP Anthony Okon Placid, the Force Public Relations Officer, said the operation led to the rescue of 30 foreign nationals and the arrest of 13 suspects linked to the criminal network.

The statement said the arrested suspects include Abdul Ngaki, identified as the principal suspect and syndicate leader, alongside Fatimah Kulibali, Ahmad Kasango, Sidibe Musa, Muhammad Dembele, Saidu Traore, Ali Koulibaly, Abdul Ngeki, Ahmed Sirma, Laya Bando, Aisha Dembele, Abi Togo, and Awa Tesure.

Placid said investigations commenced following intelligence concerning the disappearance of several foreign nationals within Nigeria under suspicious circumstances.

He said preliminary findings revealed that the syndicate targeted vulnerable young persons from West African countries, particularly Mali and Gabon, with false promises of migration opportunities to Europe and lucrative employment in Nigeria.

The statement added: “Victims were induced to pay processing and transportation fees before being conveyed to residential locations in Mararaba and Karu, Nasarawa State, where they were held under exploitative and restrictive conditions.”

He said further investigations established that victims who could not meet additional financial demands were coerced into participating in staged kidnapping schemes orchestrated by the syndicate.

“Under the arrangement, victims were forced to contact relatives in their home countries while pretending to have been kidnapped, thereby compelling family members to remit ransom payments into accounts controlled by the syndicate,” the statement added.

“Acting on credible intelligence, operatives of the Intelligence Response Team (IRT) conducted coordinated operations on May 7, 2026, at identified hideouts along Barrister Road, Rugan Dakachi, Nasarawa State, leading to the rescue of 30 victims, all identified as Malian nationals, and the arrest of 13 suspects directly connected to the operation,” it stated.

The Nigeria Police Force said it remains committed to combating human trafficking, transnational organised crime, and all forms of exploitation, while assuring members of the public that all persons connected to the criminal network will be brought to justice.