By: Ojay Matthew
The Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Police Command has busted a transnational kidnapping syndicate that allegedly demanded ₦230 million in ransom from foreign nationals lured into Nigeria under the guise of lucrative job offers. During a coordinated sting operation in Nasarawa State, operatives of the Command’s Scorpion Squad rescued 23 victims and arrested 14 suspects.
The operation, launched around 8 p.m. on Tuesday, October 22, 2025, took place at Angwan Adamu Ruga Fulani Zone B, Riverside, Ado Mararaba, where the hostages were held captive. Police investigations revealed that the victims, all citizens of West African countries, were tricked into travelling to Nigeria by the syndicate, which posed as an employment agency. Upon arrival, they were abducted, and their families were contacted through WhatsApp and other online platforms with ransom demands.
FCT Police Public Relations Officer, SP Josephine Adeh, disclosed that the syndicate was led by one Abubakar Jigiba, a notorious cross-border criminal with known bases in Côte d’Ivoire, Ghana, Mali, and Nigeria. His younger brother, Sougule Zoubere, allegedly handled the trafficking and detention of the victims, who were smuggled into Nigeria through illegal border routes.
According to Adeh, the gang demanded four million CFA francs (about ₦10 million) per victim, totaling approximately ₦230 million. She confirmed that while several arrests have been made, efforts are ongoing to apprehend the two principal suspects — Jigiba and Zoubere — who remain at large.
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