By Suleiman Anyalewechi
The Nasarawa State Police Command, on Monday, December 1, 2025, informed that it has rescued no fewer than 40 foreign nationals who were victims of human trafficking ring.
The State Police Commissioner, Mohammed Shettima-Jauro who disclosed this at the occasion of the formal handing over of the victims to the Comptroller of Immigration Service, NIS, Nasarawa State Command, Sekule Ubale in Lafia the State Capital, stated that they were freed from a bungalow at Orange Market in Mararaba ,Karu Local Council of the State.
According to the CP, the victims ,39 of which are Malians, and one Ivorian national, were lured to Nigeria with mouth-watering job opportunities by members of the trafficking syndicates.
Upon arrival in the country, the victims, Shettima-Jauro added, were allegedly held captive ,and forced to recruit others, with their captors engaging them in forced and slave labour.
The CP noted that the rescue of the victims , comprising 33 males and 6 females followed an intelligence-driven operation conducted by operatives.
“Upon receipt of this information, a team of Police detectives was immediately mobilised to the location where thirty-three males and seven females ,all Malian nationals , with the exception of one person from Ivory Coast, were rescued from a bungalow at Orange Market , Mararaba Karu LGA ” the CP stated .
This is as he informed that the prime suspect, Abdullahi Berter, a Malian citizen, who earlier evaded arrest, has been apprehended.
He was arrested after operatives launched a coordinated manhunt for him.
Shettima-Jauro added that the victims will be subjected to proper investigation and profiling for further necessary action by the Immigration authorities
The CP also emphasized that the police are presently working assiduously to establish the extent of the operations and membership of the trafficking syndicate , with a view to bringing the perpetrators to justice.
Responding, the state NIS boss Ubale , while acknowledging the receipt of the 40 victims, noted that the Command effected additional arrest of 20 Malians.
He assured that all the victims will undergo thorough investigation and profiling, before their repatriation to their various countries.
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