By Nkechi Eze
The Nigeria Police Force has recorded major breakthroughs in its ongoing nationwide crackdown on organized crime, with operatives of the Force Intelligence Department–Intelligence Response Team (FID-IRT) dismantling a transnational human trafficking syndicate, arresting suspects linked to a shocking family-backed kidnapping conspiracy, and apprehending a domestic staff member accused of masterminding a multi-million naira robbery operation in Abuja.
Speaking during a press briefing at the FID-IRT Headquarters Abuja, the Force Public Relations Officer, DCP Anthony Placid, said the operations underscored the commitment of the Nigeria Police Force under the leadership of the Inspector-General of Police, IGP Olatunji Rilwan Disu, to combating emerging criminal threats through intelligence-driven policing.
DCP Placid disclosed that in the first operation, operatives dismantled a sophisticated transnational human trafficking and fraudulent exploitation network operating within the Federal Capital Territory and neighbouring communities, leading to the arrest of thirteen suspects and the rescue of thirty victims, all identified as Malian nationals.
According to him, investigations commenced after the Association of Malian Citizens in Nigeria submitted a formal petition to the Nigeria Police Force over the disappearance of several Malian nationals under suspicious circumstances.
He explained that preliminary findings revealed a disturbing pattern in which victims who had earlier been declared missing later resurfaced through distress calls to relatives, falsely claiming they had been kidnapped and demanding ransom payments for their release.
The Force spokesman stated that following a seventeen-day intelligence-led operation involving geo-spatial tracking and human intelligence gathering, operatives uncovered the syndicate allegedly led by Abdul Ngaki, which specialized in luring vulnerable young persons from Mali, Gabon, and other West African countries with false promises of relocation opportunities to Europe, particularly Spain, or lucrative jobs in Nigeria.
Victims were reportedly made to pay about N120,000 as transportation and processing fees before being transported to residential apartments in Mararaba and Karu areas of Nasarawa State, where they were allegedly detained under exploitative conditions and compelled to make additional payments disguised as investment fees.
According to DCP Placid, victims who could not raise the extra funds were coerced into participating in staged kidnapping schemes in which they contacted family members abroad pretending to have been abducted, thereby inducing relatives to pay ransom into accounts controlled by members of the syndicate.
He revealed that on May 7, 2026, operatives stormed two residential locations along Barrister Road in Rugan Dakachi, Nasarawa State, rescuing all thirty victims and arresting thirteen suspects linked to the criminal enterprise.
The Police said collaboration was ongoing with the Nigeria Immigration Service and the Embassy of Mali to facilitate proper documentation, protection, and repatriation of the rescued victims, while efforts were being intensified to apprehend additional collaborators connected to the syndicate.
In another major breakthrough, the Police uncovered a disturbing family-backed kidnapping syndicate involving biological relatives who allegedly abducted their own father and grandfather for financial gain.
DCP Placid identified the suspects in custody as Musa Adamu and Yusuf Rabo, who is reportedly the biological son of the victim, Alhaji Rabo Jelani, while another suspect, Ali Haruna, said to be the victim’s grandson, remains at large.
According to investigations, the suspects allegedly conspired to abduct Alhaji Jelani because of his wealth and ownership of a large herd of livestock.
The Police spokesman disclosed that Ali Haruna allegedly supplied an AK-47 rifle belonging to his father for the operation, while Yusuf Rabo and Musa Adamu sourced additional firearms used by the gang.
He explained that the victim was abducted and held in a forest location while Yusuf Rabo allegedly coordinated negotiations with family members and issued ransom demands.
The first abduction reportedly yielded a ransom payment of N2 million, out of which N1 million was allegedly deducted for firearms procurement before the balance was shared among the conspirators.
Investigations further revealed that the same victim was abducted a second time, resulting in another ransom payment of N4.5 million, with part of the proceeds again allegedly earmarked for operational weapons.
The Police further linked the syndicate to other violent crimes within the region, including the kidnapping of an Igbo trader identified as Mr. Iyke, from whom a ransom of N2 million was collected, as well as a highway robbery attack near Government Secondary School, Kagoma, where market travellers were dispossessed of N1 million.
DCP Placid said efforts were ongoing to arrest the fleeing suspect and recover additional weapons used by the gang.
The Force also announced the arrest of a 41-year-old chef, John Cosmos Govi, over his alleged involvement in a conspiracy to drug members of his employer’s household and facilitate the theft of valuables worth approximately N150 million.
According to the Police, Govi, who claimed to have trained at a catering school in Cotonou, Benin Republic, allegedly secured employment as a chef in the residence of Engr. Kassim Abu Amjad after establishing contact with two accomplices identified as Peter and Moses at Wuse Market in Abuja.
Investigators said the suspect and his accomplices carefully studied the routine and security structure of the residence before allegedly executing the operation on April 23, 2026.
DCP Placid explained that the suspects reportedly laced soup prepared for members of the household with a suspected sedative substance intended to incapacitate both the family and security personnel guarding the premises.
After the substance reportedly took effect, the suspect allegedly facilitated the entry of his accomplices into the residence around 10 p.m., an action initially captured by the property’s CCTV system before the cameras were vandalized.
The gang reportedly stole N12,000 cash alongside twenty luxury wristwatches valued at about N150 million before attempting to flee toward Lagos through Gwagwalada Park, where they were intercepted by operatives of the FID-IRT.
The Police recovered the victim’s mobile phone and an unidentified chemical substance believed to have been used during the operation, which has since been forwarded for forensic examination.
According to investigators, Govi allegedly specialized in infiltrating affluent homes by posing as domestic staff, particularly cooks and cleaners, with the intention of gaining the confidence of employers before inviting accomplices to steal luxury items and other valuables.
DCP Placid disclosed that the suspect had admitted involvement in the crime and was currently assisting investigators with information expected to aid the arrest of other gang members and the recovery of stolen items.
He added that Engr. Kassim Abu Amjad and three members of his family were receiving medical treatment at the Federal Medical Centre, Jabi, following the incident.
The Force Public Relations Officer assured Nigerians that investigations into all the cases remained ongoing and reiterated the commitment of the Nigeria Police Force to dismantling criminal networks, apprehending fleeing suspects, and ensuring diligent prosecution of all persons found culpable.
He also urged members of the public to remain vigilant, exercise caution in the employment of domestic staff, and promptly report suspicious activities to security agencies, stressing that public cooperation remained critical to effective policing and national security.
