By Oluwakemi Kindness
The Nigeria Police Force has rescued 30 Malian nationals from a transnational human trafficking syndicate operating within the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) and neighbouring Nasarawa State.
This is as the Police said it also uncovered a disturbing family-linked kidnapping ring and foiling a major robbery operation involving a domestic chef.
Force Public Relations Officer, DCP Anthony Okon Placid, disclosed the developments at a press briefing on Friday at the Force Intelligence Department–Intelligence Response Team (FID-IRT) headquarters in Guzape, Abuja.
Human Trafficking Syndicate Busted
Placid said 13 suspects were arrested during coordinated intelligence-led raids carried out in the Mararaba and Karu areas of Nasarawa State, where the rescued victims were found confined in residential apartments.
According to him, investigations began following a petition by the Association of Malian Citizens in Nigeria over the disappearance of several nationals.
He explained that the trafficking syndicate, allegedly headed by one Abdul Ngaki, lured victims from Mali and Gabon with false promises of employment opportunities and relocation to Europe.
The victims were reportedly compelled to pay about ₦120,000 each for processing and transportation before being housed in overcrowded apartments and subjected to exploitation.
Placid revealed that victims who failed to raise additional funds were forced into staged kidnapping schemes, where they contacted relatives abroad and pretended to have been abducted in order to extort ransom payments.
“A 17-day intelligence operation led to the successful raids conducted on May 7 and the rescue of the victims,” he said.
Son, Grandson Allegedly Kidnap Grandfather
In another shocking case, the Force spokesperson said the police uncovered a kidnapping operation allegedly masterminded by a biological son and grandson of the victim.
The suspects, he identified as Yusuf Rabo and Musa Adamu, were accused of abducting Rabo Jelani alongside a fleeing accomplice, Ali Haruna, who is the victim’s grandson.
Placid said the suspects targeted the elderly man based on claims that he possessed substantial wealth and owned large livestock holdings.
He said investigators further discovered that Ali Haruna allegedly supplied an AK-47 rifle stolen from his father, while the other suspects procured additional weapons used for the operation.
The victim was reportedly held in a forest hideout while ransom negotiations were conducted.
According to the police, an initial ransom payment of ₦2 million was shared among the suspects after deductions for weapons procurement, while a second abduction of the same victim later yielded another ₦4.5 million.
Placid also added that the gang was also linked to the kidnapping of a trader identified simply as Mr. Iyke, who reportedly paid ₦2 million ransom, as well as a highway robbery operation along the Government Secondary School, Kagoma axis, where travellers were dispossessed of about ₦1 million.
Chef Arrested Over ₦150m Drugged Food Robbery
Similarly in a separate operation, he said police arrested a 41-year-old chef, John Cosmos-Govi, for allegedly orchestrating a robbery by drugging members of his employer’s household with sedative-laced food.
Placid said the suspect prepared soup mixed with sedatives to incapacitate the occupants, enabling his accomplices to gain access to the residence.
The gang allegedly stole ₦12 million in cash and 20 luxury wristwatches estimated to be worth about ₦150 million.
The police spokesperson disclosed that the suspects were intercepted while attempting to flee through Gwagwalada en route to Lagos.
Police Intensify Crackdown
Placid said investigations into all the cases are ongoing, adding that efforts have been intensified to apprehend fleeing suspects and recover stolen assets and weapons.
He noted that the incidents underscore the growing sophistication of criminal networks and the urgent need for stronger intelligence gathering, public vigilance, and inter-agency collaboration in combating crime across the country.
