A major transnational human trafficking syndicate has been dismantled by the Nigeria Police Force. The operation spanned the Federal Capital Territory and nearby communities, culminating in the rescue of 30 Malian nationals being exploited in Nasarawa State.
In a statement, Force Public Relations Officer DCP Anthony Okon Placid revealed that operatives tracked the network to residential apartments in Mararaba and Karu, where the victims were kept confined. Law enforcement authorities confirmed that 13 suspects have been taken into custody.
At the center of the ring is the alleged mastermind, Abdul Ngaki. He was arrested alongside 12 accomplices: 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 crackdown follows a meticulous police investigation triggered by intelligence reports regarding the suspicious disappearance of foreign nationals within Nigeria.
According to DCP Anthony Okon Placid, preliminary findings reveal that the syndicate targeted vulnerable youths from Mali and Gabon. The suspects allegedly lured their victims with false promises of lucrative jobs in Nigeria and a pathway to migrate 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,” he said.
According to the police, the syndicate utilized psychological coercion, forcing the trafficked individuals to contact their relatives and falsely claim they had been abducted. This ruse allowed the network to extort ransom payments, which were directed into accounts managed by the suspects.
Acting on this intelligence, operatives from the Intelligence Response Team (IRT) executed coordinated raids on May 7, 2026. The tactical operation targeted specific criminal safehouses situated along Barrister Road in Rugan Dakachi, Nasarawa State.
“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,” he stated.
Police authorities confirmed that efforts are underway to track down and apprehend remaining members of the criminal network. The Force reaffirmed its unwavering commitment to dismantling human trafficking syndicates and combating transnational organized crime within the country’s borders.
