Niger: Police bust 10-member human trafficking syndicate, rescue 36 victims

By Yahaya Isah

Police have rescued 36 victims from members of a 10-man syndicate suspected to specialised in international human trafficking arrested in Minna, Niger State.

Spokesperson for Niger Police Command, SP Wasiu Abiodun announced the rescue of the victims and arrest of the suspects in Minna on Wednesday.

The syndicate is believe to be acting as travel agents under false pretence and trafficking of unsuspecting victims to different countries.

According to Abiodun, the suspects were arrested on July 18, at about 12.30pm based on credible intelligence received on their activities along 123 Quarters, Minna.

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

“They were discovered to be indigene in various neighbouring West African Countries and could basically speak in French, except their Nigerian collaborator, Dauda-Kolo who provides accommodation for the syndicate in Minna and one other.

“The operation also led to the rescue of 36 youths of different countries such as Senegal, Cote d’Ivoire, Mali, Burkina-Faso and Guinea without any documents,” he stated.

During interrogation, they claimed that they had come to Nigeria for an online business.

The statement said all the suspects and the victims were transferred to the Interpol for further investigation and other necessary actions.(NAN)
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