By Pius Awunah
The Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Police Command’s Scorpion Squad has arrested 14 suspected kidnappers and rescued 23 foreign victims from captivity.
The operation took place at about 8:00 p.m. on Tuesday, October 22, 2025, at Angwan Adamu Ruga Fulani Zone B, Riverside, Ado Mararaba, Nasarawa State.
According to the command’s spokesperson, SP Josephine Adeh, the operation followed a report which indicated that several foreign nationals were lured into Nigeria under the pretext of lucrative job offers.
Upon arrival,she said they were held hostage by their abductors, who demanded ransom from their families via WhatsApp and other online platforms.
Adeh said, preliminary investigation revealed that the syndicate was 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”, she added.
”Further investigations revealed that the victims were trafficked into the country through illegal border routes in a journey lasting about three days where 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 and rescued a total of 23 victims, comprising14 males, eight 8 females, and one child, all unhurt, except one who sustained a minor ear injury and was 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, “she said.
The statement disclosed that FCT’s Commissioner of Police, Miller Dantawaye, commended the Scorpion Squad for the swift operation, and called on members of the public to remain vigilant and report any suspicious activity to the command.
