The Nigeria Police Force has announced the dismantling of a human trafficking syndicate operating across the Federal Capital Territory and neighbouring communities, leading to the rescue of 30 Malian nationals allegedly held under exploitative conditions in Nasarawa State.
The development was disclosed in a statement issued by the Force Public Relations Officer, Anthony Placid, who said the victims were rescued from residential buildings located in Mararaba and Karu areas of Nasarawa State.
According to the police, 13 suspects linked to the trafficking network were arrested during coordinated operations carried out by operatives of the Intelligence Response Team (IRT).
Those arrested include Abdul Ngaki, identified as the alleged leader of the syndicate, 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.
Police authorities said investigations began after intelligence reports indicated the suspicious disappearance of several foreign nationals within Nigeria.
Preliminary findings revealed that the syndicate allegedly targeted vulnerable youths from countries including Mali and Gabon with false promises of employment opportunities in Nigeria and possible migration pathways to Europe.
“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,” Placid stated.
The police spokesperson further disclosed that victims who could no longer provide money were allegedly forced into staged kidnapping schemes orchestrated by the traffickers.
According to him, the victims were instructed to contact their families and falsely claim they had been abducted in order to extort ransom payments from relatives abroad.
“Acting on credible intelligence, operatives of the Intelligence Response Team conducted coordinated operations… leading to the rescue of thirty victims, all identified as Malian nationals, and the arrest of thirteen suspects directly connected to the operation,” the statement added.
The police said investigations are ongoing to apprehend other members of the trafficking network while reiterating the Force’s commitment to combating human trafficking and other forms of transnational organised crime across the country.
