NIGER POLICE BUST CROSS-BORDER TRAFFICKING SYNDICATE, RESCUE 36 WEST AFRICAN YOUTHS

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By Aishat Momoh. O.

The Niger State Police Command has dismantled a ten-member human trafficking syndicate allegedly involved in the cross-border transportation and exploitation of unsuspecting individuals under the guise of travel assistance.

The syndicate, made up primarily of foreign nationals from neighboring West African countries, was apprehended on Friday, July 18, 2025, during a coordinated raid at 123 Quarters, Minna, following a tip-off.

In a statement released on Tuesday, the command’s spokesperson, SP Wasiu Abiodun, confirmed the arrest and disclosed that 36 youths from Senegal, Côte d’Ivoire, Mali, Burkina Faso, and Guinea were rescued during the operation.

According to the police, the victims were held without any valid travel documentation and were unable to communicate in English, speaking only French except for their Nigerian accomplice, Hashimu Dauda Kolo, who allegedly housed the syndicate.

“The suspects were arrested based on credible intelligence, and investigations suggest they are involved in international human trafficking and extortion schemes,” Abiodun stated.

Those arrested include Sokou Doumbia, Thiarno Balbe, Hashimu Dauda Kolo, Usman Doumbia, Musa Konate, Lamine Watara, Racine Diouf, Adamu Zarbu, Alhassan Konde, and Dango Aminatu.

During preliminary questioning, some of the rescued victims claimed they entered Nigeria to engage in “online business,” a claim which has raised additional red flags about the nature of the trafficking operation.

All suspects and rescued individuals have since been handed over to **Interpol** for further investigation and international coordination to trace the syndicate’s broader network.

The police assured the public that the investigation remains ongoing, vowing to uncover all collaborators and ensure justice is served.