Immigration rescues two trafficking victims, arrests 12 suspects
Nigeria Immigration Service Dismantles Transnational Crime Syndicate
LAGOS, Nigeria — The Nigeria Immigration Service (NIS) announced on Tuesday that it has dismantled a suspected transnational criminal network associated with the QNET/IGNITE syndicate. The operation, which took place in Lagos and Ogun states, resulted in the rescue of two alleged victims of human trafficking and the arrest of 12 suspected members, including the syndicate’s purported foreign leader.
The NIS disclosed this information through a statement from Deputy Comptroller of Immigration Akinsola Akinlabi. The suspected leader, identified as Ouattra Adama, a national of Burkina Faso, was apprehended alongside 11 others, which included eight Liberian nationals and three Cameroonian nationals.
Akinlabi stated that the operation was initiated based on credible intelligence regarding the activities of syndicates involved in human trafficking and irregular migration.
During the operation, immigration officials rescued two Liberian nationals who were allegedly exploited by the syndicate through deceptive schemes promising employment and migration opportunities.
The suspects, along with the victims, have been taken to the NIS headquarters in Abuja for further investigation and legal proceedings.
“The arrest of the syndicate leader and other facilitators underscores NIS’s commitment to intelligence-driven border management and its determination to combat irregular migration and transnational organized crimes,” Akinlabi said.
The NIS has advised the public to verify all offers related to employment, education, business, and migration through appropriate channels before making financial commitments or traveling internationally. According to the service, the syndicate reportedly misled individuals with false promises, subjecting them to fraudulent and exploitative conditions.
Akinlabi emphasized that the operation reflects the NIS’s ongoing efforts to enhance border management and address issues of human trafficking and other cross-border crimes, aligning with the Renewed Hope Agenda of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s administration.
