The Nigeria Police Force (NPF) said it has dismantled a human trafficking and fraudulent exploitation syndicate operating within the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) and neighbouring communities.
Anthony Placid, police spokesperson, in a statement on Monday, said the operation led to the rescue of thirty foreign nationals and the arrest of thirteen suspects linked to the criminal network.
Mr Placid, a deputy commissioner of Police (DCP), said the suspects arrested 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.
He said investigations commenced following intelligence concerning the disappearance of several foreign nationals within Nigeria under suspicious circumstances.
How the syndicate operated
Mr Placid 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 police said 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.
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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, Mr Placid said 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.
“Acting on credible intelligence, operatives of the Intelligence Response Team (IRT) conducted coordinated operations on 7th May 2026 at identified hideouts along Barrister Road, Rugan Dakachi, Nasarawa State, leading to the rescue of thirty victims, all identified as Malian nationals, and the arrest of thirteen suspects directly connected to the operation,” the police said.
The Nigeria Police Force said it is committed to combating human trafficking, transnational organised crime, and all forms of exploitation.
The police assured members of the public that all persons connected to the criminal network will be brought to justice.
