Police bust human trafficking syndicate in FCT, rescue 30 foreigners

By Kingsley Omonobi

The Nigeria Police Force announced on Monday that it has achieved a significant victory in its campaign against transnational organised crime by dismantling a human‑trafficking and fraud syndicate that operated within the Federal Capital Territory and nearby communities.

Force Public Relations Officer, DCP Anthony Okon Placid said the operation rescued thirty (30) foreign nationals and led to the arrest of thirteen (13) suspects linked to the criminal network.

The arrested suspects include Abdul Ngaki, identified as the principal suspect and syndicate leader, along with 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.

Investigations began after intelligence indicated that several foreign nationals had disappeared under suspicious circumstances in Nigeria.

Preliminary findings showed that the syndicate targeted vulnerable young people from West African countries—particularly Mali and Gabon—by offering false promises of migration opportunities to Europe and lucrative employment in Nigeria.

Victims were made to pay processing and transportation fees before being transported to residential locations in Mararaba and Karu, Nasarawa State, where they were kept under exploitative and restrictive conditions.

Further inquiries revealed that victims who could not meet additional financial demands were coerced into participating in staged kidnapping schemes orchestrated by the syndicate.

Under this 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.

Acting on credible intelligence, operatives of the Intelligence Response Team (IRT) carried out coordinated operations on 7 May 2026 at identified hideouts along Barrister Road, Rugan Dakachi, Nasarawa State, rescuing thirty (30) victims— all Malian nationals— and arresting thirteen suspects directly connected to the operation.

The Nigeria Police Force reaffirmed its commitment to combating human trafficking, transnational organised crime, and all forms of exploitation, and assured the public that all persons connected to the criminal network will be brought to justice.

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