The police said investigations began after intelligence reports revealed the disappearance of several foreign nationals within Nigeria under suspicious circumstances.
The Nigeria Police Force (NPF) has announced that its operatives dismantled a transnational human trafficking and fraud syndicate operating within the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) and neighbouring communities, leading to the rescue of 30 foreign nationals and the arrest of 13 suspects.
According to the police, the criminal network specialised in luring vulnerable young persons from West African countries with false promises of migration opportunities to Europe and lucrative jobs in Nigeria before subjecting them to exploitation.
The Force Public Relations Officer, DCP Anthony Okon Placid, disclosed this in a statement issued on Monday in Abuja.
Placid identified the arrested suspects as Abdul Ngaki, said 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.
The police said investigations began after intelligence reports revealed 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,” Placid stated.
According to the police, victims were persuaded to pay transportation and processing fees before being moved to residential locations in Mararaba and Karu areas of Nasarawa State, where they were allegedly held under exploitative and restrictive conditions.
Placid said investigators further discovered that victims who failed to meet additional financial demands by the syndicate were allegedly forced into staged kidnapping schemes.
He stated that the victims were compelled to contact their relatives in their home countries while pretending to have been kidnapped, thereby pressuring family members to send ransom payments into accounts controlled by the syndicate.
Acting on intelligence, Placid said operatives of the Intelligence Response Team (IRT) carried out coordinated operations on May 7, 2026, at identified hideouts along Barrister Road, Rugan Dakachi, Nasarawa State.
He said the operation led to the rescue of all 30 victims, who were identified as Malian nationals, while 13 suspects linked to the criminal enterprise were arrested.
The police reiterated its commitment to combating human trafficking, transnational organised crime and all forms of exploitation across the country.
The police also assured the public that all persons connected to the criminal network would be brought to justice.
