The Federal Capital Territory Police Command has rescued 23 foreign nationals allegedly held captive by a kidnapping and human trafficking syndicate in Nasarawa State.
The command’s spokesperson, SP Josephine Adeh, disclosed in a statement on Friday that the victims were freed during an intelligence-led operation carried out by operatives of the Scorpion Squad at Angwan Adamu Ruga Fulani Zone B, Riverside area of Ado Mararaba on Tuesday, October 22, 2025.
According to her, the victims had been deceived with promises of well-paying jobs in Nigeria, only to be detained and forced to call their families to demand ransom.
“Preliminary investigations revealed that the victims were brought into Nigeria through illegal routes and held in two fortified apartments under inhuman conditions,” Adeh stated.
She explained that the syndicate was allegedly coordinated by one Abubakar Jigiba, described as a transnational criminal kingpin who reportedly operates across Côte d’Ivoire, Ghana, Mali, and Nigeria. His younger brother, Sougule Zoubere, was said to be in charge of recruitment and transportation of the victims.
“The group demanded about four million CFA (approximately ₦10 million) as ransom for each victim,” the police spokesperson added.
The 23 rescued victims consist of 14 men, eight women, and one child. Only one of them sustained a minor injury and has been taken to the National Hospital, Abuja, for treatment.
The police also confirmed the arrest of 14 suspects: Bubakari Cisse (40), Karamogo Dembele (25), Musa Kamsoko (23), Amadou Traore (25), Sareba Traore (24), Zoumana Diara (23), Umar Koulibaly (26), Alasgara Sagara (20), Berthe Saidu (23), Abdullahi Napo (32), Isah Goita (26), Lorita Traore (22), Mohammed Siaaibe (23), and Haruna Dembele (37).
Efforts are ongoing to track and arrest the ring leaders, Jigiba and Zoubere, who are currently on the run.
The Commissioner of Police, CP Miller G. Dantawaye, commended the Scorpion Squad for the successful rescue and called on residents to remain vigilant.
“This operation is part of our sustained efforts to clamp down on kidnapping and trafficking networks. We urge residents to report suspicious movements or persons within their communities,” he said.
The operation comes amid increased security surveillance in border communities around the FCT, including Bwari, Kuje, and Gwagwalada, following multiple reports of bandit activities.
