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🇳🇬 Nigeria /Culture & Society

Nigeria Immigration Service busts transnational syndicate, arrests 12 in Lagos

From The Punch · () English

Translated from English, summarized and contextualized by DistantNews.

At a glance

News Official statement Outcome reported
  • Nigeria's Immigration Service arrested 12 suspects, including a Burkinabe national identified as the alleged leader, in Lagos for operating a transnational organized crime syndicate linked to the QNET/IGNITE network.
  • The operation also rescued two Liberian nationals who were victims of the syndicate's fraudulent employment and business schemes, which are associated with irregular migration.
  • The Nigeria Immigration Service is investigating further to identify other network members and victims, urging the public to verify employment and migration offers.

The Nigeria Immigration Service has dismantled a transnational organized crime syndicate operating in Lagos, arresting 12 individuals and rescuing two victims. The group is linked to the QNET/IGNITE network, which allegedly uses fraudulent employment and business schemes to facilitate irregular migration.

One Ouattra Adama, a Burkinabe national identified as the alleged leader of the QNET/IGNITE syndicate, was arrested alongside 11 other suspected facilitators. The facilitators comprise eight Liberians and three Cameroonians

— Akinsola AkinlabiStatement issued by the Service Public Relations Officer, Deputy Comptroller of Immigration, Akinsola Akinlabi, detailing the arrests.

Among those arrested is Ouattra Adama, a Burkinabe national identified as the syndicate's alleged leader. He was apprehended along with 11 facilitators, comprising eight Liberians and three Cameroonians. The two rescued victims are also Liberian nationals.

Accordingly, the twelve (12) suspects and the two (2) victims have been transferred to the Service Headquarters for further investigation and necessary legal action

— Akinsola AkinlabiStatement issued by the Service Public Relations Officer, Deputy Comptroller of Immigration, Akinsola Akinlabi, regarding the next steps.

Service Public Relations Officer, Deputy Comptroller of Immigration Akinsola Akinlabi, stated that the operation followed actionable intelligence. The arrested suspects and rescued victims have been transferred to the Service Headquarters for further investigation and legal action. The NIS emphasized its commitment to combating irregular migration and transnational organized crimes.

Verify all offers of employment, education, business, and migration through appropriate channels before making financial commitments or embarking on international travel.

— Nigeria Immigration ServiceA warning issued to the public by the NIS.

The QNET network has faced scrutiny in various countries for similar allegations of exploiting job seekers with false promises. Nigerian security agencies have been intensifying efforts against such trafficking and irregular migration networks.

The arrest of the syndicate leader and other facilitators demonstrates Nigeria Immigration Service’s commitment to intelligence-driven Border Management.

— Nigeria Immigration ServiceA statement from the NIS highlighting the significance of the operation.
DistantNews Editorial

Originally published by The Punch in English. Translated, summarized, and contextualized by our editorial team with added local perspective. Read our editorial standards.

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