The Nigeria Immigration Service (NIS) has dismantled a transnational human trafficking network linked to the QNET/IGNITE group, arresting 12 suspects—including the alleged syndicate leader—and rescuing two victims in coordinated operations across Lagos State.
Arrest of the Syndicate Leader and Facilitators
In a statement issued on Tuesday, 4th August, the NIS Public Relations Officer, AS Akinlabi, confirmed that the arrests followed actionable intelligence on trafficking syndicates operating in the state. The alleged leader, Ouattara Adama, a Burkinabe national, was arrested alongside 11 other suspected facilitators comprising eight Liberians and three Cameroonians.
According to the statement, the operation also led to the rescue of two Liberian nationals identified as victims of the syndicate’s illegal activities. “Accordingly, the twelve (12) suspects and the two (2) victims have been transferred to the Service Headquarters for further investigation and necessary legal action,” Mr Akinlabi stated.
Nature of the QNET/IGNITE Network
The NIS described the QNET/IGNITE network as a transnational organised criminal syndicate involved in fraudulent employment and business schemes linked to irregular migration. The service urged the public to verify all offers of employment, education, business, and migration through appropriate channels before making financial commitments or embarking on international travel.
“The arrest of the syndicate leader and other facilitators demonstrates Nigeria Immigration Service’s commitment to intelligence-driven Border Management,” the statement said. It added that the operation “underscores the Service’s resolve to rid the country of all forms of irregular migration and transnational organised crimes, in tandem with the renewed hope agenda of the President Bola Ahmed Tinubu-led administration.”
Ongoing Investigations
The service further said that investigations are ongoing to identify other members of the network and possible victims across the country. This development highlights the persistent threat of human trafficking in Nigeria and the government’s efforts to combat it through intelligence-led operations.
