Police Rescue 30 Malians from Human Trafficking Ring in Nasarawa

The Nigeria Police Force (NPF) says it has rescued 30 Malian nationals from a suspected human trafficking and exploitation syndicate operating in Nasarawa State.

According to a statement issued on Monday by police spokesperson, ACP Anthony Placid, the criminal network operated across the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) and neighbouring communities, using deceptive promises to lure victims.

The rescued victims were reportedly held in residential buildings located in Mararaba and Karu, while 13 suspects linked to the syndicate were arrested during the operation.

Placid identified the arrested suspects as Abdul Ngaki, 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.

He said investigations began after intelligence reports revealed the suspicious disappearance of several foreign nationals in Nigeria.

Preliminary findings showed that the syndicate allegedly targeted vulnerable youths from West African countries, particularly Mali and Gabon, by offering false promises of migration opportunities to Europe and lucrative jobs in Nigeria.

Victims were reportedly persuaded to pay transportation and processing fees before being moved to locations in Mararaba and Karu, where they were subjected to exploitative and restrictive conditions.

The police further disclosed that victims who failed to provide additional payments were allegedly forced into staged kidnapping schemes. They were made to contact relatives in their home countries, falsely claiming they had been abducted, in a bid to extort ransom payments into accounts controlled by the suspects.

Placid said operatives of the Intelligence Response Team (IRT), acting on credible intelligence, carried out coordinated raids on May 7, 2026, at hideouts along Barrister Road in Rugan Dakachi, Nasarawa State.

The operation led to the rescue of all 30 victims, identified as Malian nationals, and the arrest of the 13 suspects allegedly involved in the trafficking network.

The police reaffirmed their commitment to tackling human trafficking, transnational crime, and exploitation, assuring the public that all individuals connected to the criminal operation would be prosecuted.