Police arrest 43 illegal immigrants in human trafficking bust in Nigeria – Interpol to take over probe
By: Zagazola Makama
The Nigeria Police Force has arrested 43 individuals in connection with a suspected human trafficking and illegal immigration syndicate following a petition from a Ghanaian national to Interpol Abuja.
Police sources told Zagazola Makama on Sunday that the operation was initiated after, a Ghanaian citizen, filed a petition at the Interpol Unit in Abuja on July 4, 2025.
She reported that her brother, David Agerinya, had been fraudulently lured to Nigeria in 2024 by an unnamed friend under the pretense of a job offer, and had since gone missing.
The sources said that acting on the petition, the Tactical Intelligence and Response Squad (TIRS) activated actionable intelligence and deployed ICT-based tracking tools using phone numbers provided by the complainant.
The coordinated effort led to the discovery and arrest of 42 illegal immigrants, among whom were three suspected trafficking agents. Further tracking and investigations eventually led to the rescue of David Agerinya, the missing Ghanaian national.
Sources at the Police Command confirmed that all 43 individuals, including the agents and rescued victim, were taken into custody and are currently undergoing profiling.
The sources added that the suspects, will be handed over to Interpol for discreet investigation and possible prosecution under international human trafficking laws.
