KEY POINTS

• Nigeria Police rescued 30 Malian victims and arrested 13 suspects linked to a human trafficking syndicate.
• Victims were allegedly deceived with fake travel and job promises before being held in Nasarawa hideouts.
• Some victims were reportedly forced to stage fake kidnappings to extort ransom from their families.

The Nigeria Police Force has uncovered and dismantled a transnational human trafficking and fraud syndicate operating in Abuja and nearby parts of Nasarawa State.

The operation led to the rescue of 30 citizens of Mali and the arrest of 13 suspects allegedly linked to the criminal network.

Police spokesperson, ACP Anthony Placid, said the raid followed intelligence reports about the disappearance of several foreign nationals in Nigeria under suspicious circumstances.

According to the police, the syndicate allegedly targeted vulnerable youths from West African countries, especially Mali and Gabon, by promising them opportunities to travel to Europe and secure lucrative jobs in Nigeria.

The suspects reportedly collected processing and transportation fees from the victims before moving them to residential hideouts in Mararaba and Karu areas of Nasarawa State.

Police said the victims were then kept in exploitative and restrictive conditions.

The arrested suspects were identified as Abdul Ngaki, believed to be the 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.

Victims Forced Into Fake Kidnapping Scheme

Investigators revealed that some victims who could not meet additional financial demands were allegedly forced into staged kidnapping schemes organised by the syndicate.

The victims were reportedly made to contact their families back home while pretending to have been kidnapped, in order to pressure relatives into paying ransom to accounts controlled by the suspects.

Acting on intelligence, operatives of the Intelligence Response Team carried out coordinated raids on May 7 at identified hideouts along Barrister Road in Rugan Dakachi, Nasarawa State.

The operation resulted in the rescue of all 30 victims and the arrest of the 13 suspects.

The police reaffirmed their commitment to fighting human trafficking, organised crime and exploitation, adding that everyone connected to the syndicate would be prosecuted.