The Lagos State Command of the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) has arrested an alleged kingpin and three other foreign nationals linked to missing persons while rescuing 24 victims during a major operation in Badagry.
The suspects, said to be nationals of Togo, Benin Republic and Ghana, were apprehended at various hideouts and black spots in Itoga, Badagry, following an intelligence-led operation by NSCDC operatives.
The Command’s Public Relations Officer, SC Oluwaseun Abolurin, disclosed the development in a statement on Friday.
According to the statement, the operation was carried out on June 4, 2026, by NSCDC operatives acting on credible intelligence. The raid led to the arrest of the suspected kingpin and three accomplices believed to be connected to several cases of missing persons.
The corps also rescued 24 victims comprising 18 males and six females, including a toddler. The victims were identified as nationals of Togo, Benin Republic and Nigeria, including an indigene of Imo State.
Lagos State Commandant, Mr. Adedotun Keshinro, attributed the success of the operation to effective community engagement and intelligence sharing with relevant stakeholders.
Preliminary investigations revealed that some of the victims had been declared missing by their families for periods ranging from three months to three years without any knowledge of their whereabouts.
Investigators further discovered that the suspects allegedly forced victims to make deceptive phone calls to relatives, falsely claiming they had been kidnapped, abducted or involved in accidents in order to extort money and ransom payments from unsuspecting family members.
The NSCDC said the victims were also allegedly compelled to engage in fraudulent activities, drug trafficking and the recruitment of other unsuspecting individuals into the criminal network.
According to the command, some families had exhausted conventional means of searching for their missing relatives before resorting to traditional methods and consultations, which eventually contributed to information that aided the arrest of the syndicate.
The commandant called on members of the public to come forward and identify any of the rescued victims who may be relatives or persons they have been searching for.
Keshinro assured that the suspects would be prosecuted upon the conclusion of investigations, stressing that the command remains committed to dismantling criminal networks and ensuring that perpetrators face the full weight of the law.
The operation, according to the NSCDC, aligns with the directive of the Commandant General of the Corps, Ahmed Abubakar Audi, to strengthen intelligence-driven operations and inter-agency collaboration in tackling security threats across the country.
