The Nasarawa state Police Command has arrested 40 suspected illegal immigrants believed to have been trafficked into Nigeria from Mali.
State Commissioner of Police, CP Shettima Mohammed Jauro, disclosed this during a press briefing on Monday, in Lafia.
He said 33 were males and seven females, all Malian nationals except for one individual from Ivory Coast.
The CP noted that they were apprehended in a bungalow at the orange Market area of Mararaba, in Karu local government area.
He explained that the victims were allegedly transported illegally from Mali and kept in captivity in the bungalow, where they were reportedly instructed to lure more persons into Nigeria for an undisclosed operation.
The Police Commissioner reaffirmed the command’s zero-tolerance stance on human trafficking, stressing its commitment to dismantling networks that exploit vulnerable individuals within and beyond the state.
Jauro further revealed that the alleged coordinator of the group, Abdullahi Berter, who arranged their transport, initially fled upon learning of the presence of security operatives.
He was, however, arrested following an intensive manhunt.
He added that the foreign nationals, who speak only French and Arabic, had been sighted about a week earlier around the Orange Market area.
Acting on this intelligence, he directed the Divisional Police Officer of Mararaba “A” Division to take immediate action.
“ Preliminary investigations indicate that about a week ago, one Abdullahi Berter, a Malian national residing in Nigeria, lured the victims under the guise of securing jobs for them in France,” the Commissioner stated.
“He then illegally transported them from Mali to orange Market, Mararaba, where they were held captive and instructed to invite more persons into the country for an undisclosed operation.”
The Commissioner of Police has since handed over all 40 rescued victims to the Nigeria Immigration Service for further investigation and necessary legal action.
