The Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Police Command’s Scorpion Squad has recorded a major breakthrough in the fight against kidnapping and human trafficking, arresting 14 suspected kidnappers and rescuing 23 foreign nationals from captivity.
In a statement released by the FCT Police Public Relations Officer, SP Josephine Adeh, the intelligence-led operation was carried out on 22 October 2025 at Angwan Adamu Ruga Fulani Zone B, Riverside, Ado Mararaba in Nasarawa State.
According to Adeh, the victims—lured into Nigeria with promises of lucrative employment—were held hostage upon arrival, while the syndicate demanded ransom from their families through WhatsApp and other online platforms.
Preliminary investigations revealed that the criminal network is allegedly headed by Abubakar Jigiba, a transnational kingpin with operational bases in Côte d’Ivoire, Ghana, Mali, and Nigeria. His younger brother, Sougule Zoubere, reportedly oversees the recruitment, trafficking, and smuggling of victims from Mali into Nigeria, where they are detained pending ransom payments.
Further findings showed that the victims were trafficked illegally into the country through unauthorized border routes in a grueling three-day journey.
They were held in two heavily fortified two-bedroom apartments under harsh and inhumane conditions.
Acting on actionable digital intelligence, detectives tracked down the hideout and successfully rescued 23 victims—including 14 males, 8 females, and one child. All were found unharmed, except for one individual with a minor ear injury, who has since been taken to the National Hospital, Abuja, for treatment.
The FCT Police Command reaffirmed its commitment to dismantling criminal syndicates and ensuring the safety and security of all residents and visitors within the territory.
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