Immigration Service Smashes Transnational Crime Ring, Rescues 2 Trafficked Victims In Lagos-Ogun Crackdown

The Nigeria Immigration Service (NIS) has dismantled a transnational organised criminal syndicate linked to the notorious QNET/IGNITE network, rescuing two trafficking victims and arresting twelve suspected members, including the alleged foreign kingpin, in coordinated operations across Lagos and Ogun states.

In a statement issued on Tuesday by its public relations officer, Deputy Comptroller of Immigration ( DCI) Akinsola Akinlabi, the Service identified the alleged syndicate leader as Ouattra Adama, a Burkinabé national, who was arrested alongside 11 suspected facilitators comprising eight Liberians and three Cameroonians.

The operation followed actionable intelligence on the activities of trafficking syndicates involved in irregular migration and other transnational organised crimes.

The Nigeria Immigration Service urged members of the public to verify all employment, educational, business and migration offers through the appropriate government channels before making financial commitments or embarking on international travel.

Akinlabi disclosed that two Liberian nationals believed to have fallen victim to the syndicate’s fraudulent activities were rescued during the operation. The suspects and the victims have since been transferred to the Service Headquarters in Abuja for further investigation and appropriate legal action.

The statement stated that “The arrest of the syndicate leader and other facilitators demonstrates the Nigeria Immigration Service’s commitment to intelligence-driven border management and its resolve to rid the country of irregular migration and transnational organised crimes.

“Members of the public should verify all employment, educational, business and migration offers through appropriate channels before making financial commitments or embarking on international travel.”

According to the statement, the syndicate allegedly lured unsuspecting victims with false promises of employment, business opportunities and migration prospects, only to subject them to exploitation through fraudulent schemes.

Akinlabi further stated that the successful operation underscores its commitment to intelligence-driven border management and the fight against irregular migration, human trafficking and other forms of transnational organised crime, in line with the Renewed Hope Agenda of the President Bola Ahmed Tinubu administration.