The Nigeria Police Force has dismantled a transnational human trafficking syndicate, arresting 13 suspects and rescuing 30 victims who were being exploited through organised criminal operations.
Force Public Relations Officer, DCP Anthony Placid, disclosed this at a news conference in Abuja on Friday. He said the suspects face allegations including trans-border trafficking, criminal conspiracy, obtaining money under false pretences, unlawful detention, and staged kidnapping for ransom.
According to Mr Placid, operatives of the Intelligence Response Team (IRT) acted on credible intelligence on May 7, conducting a coordinated search of two residential properties along Barrister Road, Rugan Dakachi, Nasarawa State. The operation led to the rescue of 30 Malian nationals held under exploitative and restrictive conditions.
The investigation followed a formal petition from the Association of Malian Citizens in Nigeria regarding the suspicious disappearance of several Malian nationals within the country. Preliminary findings revealed that victims, after being declared missing, would resurface via distress calls to relatives—claiming to have been kidnapped and demanding ransom.
Mr Placid noted that the IRT spent 17 days on an inquiry combining geo-spatial technical intelligence and human intelligence. The probe uncovered a sophisticated network operating within the Federal Capital Territory and surrounding communities.
The syndicate’s leader allegedly targeted vulnerable young people from West African nations, particularly Mali and Gabon, falsely promising them opportunities to travel to Europe or secure high-paying jobs in Nigeria. Victims were instructed to pay approximately N120,000 in transportation and processing fees.
Upon arrival in Nigeria, the force spokesperson explained, victims were taken to residential apartments in Mararaba and Karu, Nasarawa State, where their movements were restricted. They were then compelled to make additional payments of N150,000 under the guise of investment fees for wellness products and business schemes.
Those unable to pay were coerced into participating in staged kidnappings. Victims would contact their families pretending to be held captive, prompting relatives to send ransom payments into accounts controlled by syndicate members.
The Nigeria Police Force is now collaborating with the Nigeria Immigration Service and the Embassy of Mali to ensure proper documentation, protection, and safe repatriation of the rescued victims. Investigations continue to identify additional collaborators, including those who may have facilitated accommodation, logistics, or concealed illegal activities under the cover of legitimate business operations.