By Aliyu Mohammed, Minna
Niger State Police Command, have arrested a 10 member syndicate of foreign nationals that specialized in human trafficking in Minna, Niger State.
Police, made this known in a statement issued to newsmen saying, the members of the human trafficking syndicate who only speak French were found in custody of 36 traffic victims.
It added that the police were able to nab the suspected traffickers last month in 123 Quarters of the metropolis following a credible intelligence gathering.
The police gave the names of the suspects as Sokou Doumbia, Thiarno Balbe, Hashimu, Dauda Kolo, Usman Doumbia, Musa Konate, Lamine Watara
-Racine Diouf, Adamu Zarbu, Alhassan Konde and Dango Aminatu
According to the statement, the victims who have all been rescued, investigation revealed were trafficked from five African countries under the guise of being introduced into an online business in Nigeria.
It reads in part, “The Niger State Police Command arrested a ten-man syndicate in Minna suspected to be specialised in international human trafficking of unsuspecting victims to different locations through false pretence as travel agents and engaging in extortion of the victims.
“The suspects were discovered to be indigene in various neighbouring West African Countries and could basically speak in French, except their Nigerian collaborator, Hashimu who provides accommodation for the syndicate in Minna and one other.
“The operation led to the rescue of thirty-six youths of different countries such as Senegal, Cote d’Ivoire, Mali, Burkina-Faso and Guinea without any documents.
“During interrogation, they claimed they had come to Nigeria for an online business. However, all the suspects and the victims were transferred to the Interpol for further investigation and other necessary actions.”
