The police have 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, Abuja, and neighbouring communities.
This was contained in a statement issued in Abuja on Monday by the Force Spokesperson, DCP Anthony Okon Placid.
The statement explained that the operation led to the rescue of 30 foreign nationals and the arrest of 13 suspects linked to the criminal network.
“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,” it said.
The statement explained that investigations commenced following intelligence concerning the disappearance of several foreign nationals within Nigeria under suspicious circumstances.
“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. 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,” it said.
It added that 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,” it said.
The statement explained that 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 reaffirmed the Nigeria Police Force’s commitment 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 would be brought to justice.