The Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Police Command of the Nigeria Police Force has announced that its operatives have dismantled a transnational kidnapping syndicate that demanded a ransom of N230 million from foreign nationals lured to Nigeria with false promises of lucrative jobs.

The operation, conducted by the Command’s Scorpion Squad, took place at around 8 PM on Tuesday, October 22, 2025, in Angwan Adamu Ruga Fulani Zone B, Riverside, Ado Mararaba, Nasarawa State, which is very close to Abuja, the nation’s capital. During this operation, 14 suspected kidnappers were arrested, and 23 foreign nationals were rescued.

According to police findings, the victims, hailing from various West African countries, were deceived into travelling to Nigeria by a criminal syndicate posing as recruiters.

Upon their arrival, the kidnappers held them captive and demanded ransom payments from their families via WhatsApp and other online platforms.

FCT Police Public Relations Officer, SP Josephine Adeh, stated on Friday that investigations have identified the ringleader as Abubakar Jigiba, a notorious cross-border criminal with known residences in Côte d’Ivoire, Ghana, Mali, and Nigeria.

The syndicate demanded four million CFA francs (approximately N10 million) per person, totalling N230 million in ransom.

Adeh confirmed that efforts are ongoing to track down the principal suspect, Abubakar Jigiba, along with his brother, Sougule Zoubere, both of whom remain at large.

She said: “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 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 (?10,000,000) 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 (8) 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.” (Tribune)