Police smash kidnap syndicate, rescue 23 foreign nationals in Nasarawa

Operatives of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Police Command have dismantled a major kidnapping syndicate and rescued 23 foreign nationals held hostage in Nasarawa State.

The operation, led by the elite Scorpion Squad under the command of ACP Victor Godfrey, was based on credible digital intelligence and marked a major breakthrough in the fight against organized crime in the FCT and its neighboring states.

Security sources told Zagazola Makama that the operation took place on October 22, 2025, around 8 p.m., when the squad stormed Agwan Adamu Ruga Fulani, Zone B, River Side, in the Ado area of Mararaba, Nasarawa State.

During the raid, 14 suspected kidnappers were arrested, while 23 victims — including 14 men, eight women, and a child — were rescued.

Investigations revealed that most of the victims were Malian nationals who had been lured into Nigeria under false promises of employment, only to be abducted and confined in two fortified apartments where their captors demanded ransom from their families.

The operation followed a complaint lodged on October 21 by Mr. Dembele Talibe, a 55-year-old Malian national and President of the Diaspora Malians Citizens Organization in Nigeria. Talibe had reported the disappearance of several Malian citizens who had been deceived with fake job offers.

According to police sources, the kidnappers used WhatsApp as their main channel to demand ransom payments. The Scorpion Squad’s digital tracking swiftly pinpointed the suspects’ hideout, leading to the successful rescue operation and arrest of key members of the gang.

Among the rescued victims were one Cameroonian, one Nigerien, and one Burkinabé national. Items recovered from the scene included mobile phones, cooking utensils, mattresses, and other belongings used by the suspects.

Police authorities confirmed that investigations were ongoing to apprehend the landlord of the property and other fleeing accomplices.

The FCT Command described the operation as a reflection of its renewed focus on intelligence-led policing, technology-driven investigations, and enhanced collaboration with local and international partners to tackle transnational criminal networks.

The successful rescue has drawn praise from foreign missions and human rights groups, who commended the Nigerian police for their swift and coordinated action against cross-border kidnapping syndicates.