Friday, October 31, 2025 - The Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Police Command has rescued 23 foreign nationals from captivity and arrested 14 suspected transnational kidnappers in Nasarawa State.
The spokesperson of the command, SP Josephine Adeh, who
disclosed this in a statement on Friday, October 31, 2025 said the rescue
operation was conducted by operatives of the command’s Scorpion Squad at Angwan
Adamu Ruga Fulani Zone B, Riverside, Ado Mararaba, followed a report indicating
that some foreign nationals had been lured into Nigeria under the pretext of
lucrative job offers.
According to the PPRO, the victims were held hostage by
their gang who demanded ransom payments from their families.
“In a major breakthrough against kidnapping and human
trafficking, operatives of the FCT Police Command’s Scorpion Squad, have
successfully arrested fourteen (14) suspected kidnappers and rescued
twenty-three (23) victims, all foreign nationals, from captivity. The
intelligence-led operation took place at about 8:00 p.m. on Tuesday, 22nd
October 2025, at Angwan Adamu Ruga Fulani Zone B, Riverside, Ado Mararaba,
Nasarawa State,” the statement read.
"The operation followed a report indicating that
several foreign nationals had been lured into Nigeria under the pretext of
lucrative job offers.
"Upon arrival, they were held hostage by their
abductors, who demanded ransom payments from their families via WhatsApp and
other online platforms.
"Preliminary investigation revealed that the syndicate is coordinated by one Abubakar Jigiba, a transnational criminal kingpin with known residences in Côte d’Ivoire, Ghana, Mali, and Nigeria.
"His younger brother, Sougule Zoubere, handles the
recruitment, kidnapping, and smuggling of victims from Mali into Nigeria, where
they are detained pending ransom payments. The group demanded four million CFA
(N10,000,000) for each victim.
"Further investigations revealed that the victims were
trafficked into the country through illegal border routes in a journey lasting
about three days. They were subsequently confined in two fortified two-bedroom
apartments under inhumane conditions.
"Acting on actionable digital and reconstructive
intelligence, the Scorpion Squad traced the hideout to the above address where
a total number of twenty-three (23) victims, comprising fourteen (14) males,
eight (females, and one (1) child, all unhurt, except one who sustained a minor
ear injury and has been taken to the National Hospital, Abuja, for medical
attention.
"The following suspects were arrested in connection
with the crime: Bubakari Cisse (40), Karamogo Dembele (25), Musa Kamsoko (23),
Amadou Traore (25), Sareba Traore (24), Zoumana Diara (23), Umar Koulibaly
(26), Alasgara Sagara (20), Berthe Saidu (23), Abdullahi Napo (32), Isah Goita
(26), Lorita Traore (22), Mohammed Siaaibe (23), and Haruna Dembele (37).
"Efforts are ongoing to apprehend the principal
suspect, Abubakar Jigiba, his brother Sougule Zoubere, who are currently at
large.
“The Commissioner of Police, FCT, CP Miller G. Dantawaye,
psc, commended the Scorpion Squad for the swift operation, and called on
members of the public to remain vigilant and report any suspicious activity to
the command via its emergency numbers: 08032003913, 08028940883 CRU:
08107314192.”
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