10 suspected human traffickers nabbed in Niger, 36 victims rescued

Police in Niger State have arrested 10 suspected human traffickers, most of whom are from neighboring West African countries, for alleged human trafficking. The suspects are believed to have trafficked 36 citizens from Senegal, Cote d’Ivoire, Mali, Burkina Faso, and Guinea to Minna without any official documents. SP Wasiu Abiodun, spokesperson for the Niger State […]

Police in Niger State have arrested 10 suspected human traffickers, most of whom are from neighboring West African countries, for alleged human trafficking.

The suspects are believed to have trafficked 36 citizens from Senegal, Cote d’Ivoire, Mali, Burkina Faso, and Guinea to Minna without any official documents.

SP Wasiu Abiodun, spokesperson for the Niger State Police Command, stated that the arrests were made following an intelligence report regarding their activities at 123 Quarters in Minna, the state capital.

Abiodun identified 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.

He explained, “The Niger State Police Command arrested a ten-man syndicate in Minna suspected to be specialized in international human trafficking of unsuspecting victims to different locations through false pretense as travel agents and engaging in extortion of the victims.”

He added, “They were discovered to be indigenes of various neighboring 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, conducted on July 18, 2025, around 12:30 pm, led to the rescue of the 36 youths. During interrogation, the suspects claimed they came to Nigeria for an online business.

Abiodun confirmed that both the suspects and the victims have been transferred to Interpol for further investigation and necessary actions.

 He said the suspects and the victims had been transferred to the Interpol for further investigation and other necessary actions.