The Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) has uncovered an illegal detention camp in the Badagry area of Lagos State, rescuing 24 victims, including a toddler, and arresting four suspected members of a cross-border criminal syndicate.
The operation was carried out by operatives of the Lagos State Command in Itoga, Badagry, following credible intelligence on suspicious activities within the community.
Lagos State Commandant, Adedotun Keshinro, said the suspects, who are nationals of Togo, Benin Republic and Ghana, were arrested during a raid on the hideout.
According to him, the rescue operation was made possible through intelligence gathering and cooperation from members of the community.
“Operatives of the command acted on credible information and arrested the suspected kingpin alongside three other foreign nationals linked to the illegal detention camp,” he said.
Keshinro disclosed that 24 victims were rescued during the operation, comprising 18 males and six females, including a toddler. The victims are nationals of Togo, Benin Republic and Nigeria.
Preliminary investigations revealed that many of the victims had been lured to the camp through false promises and deceptive offers.
The commandant noted that some of the victims had been reported missing by their families for periods ranging from three months to three years, with relatives having no information about their whereabouts.
He alleged that the suspects operated a scheme designed to extort money from families by forcing victims to make distress calls claiming they had been kidnapped, abducted or involved in accidents.
According to him, the suspects used these fabricated stories to demand ransom payments from unsuspecting relatives.
Investigations also showed that some victims were allegedly forced to participate in fraudulent activities, drug-related crimes and recruitment of new victims into the camp
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Keshinro said intelligence from local residents eventually led security operatives to the location after several families had unsuccessfully searched for their missing relatives.
He called on members of the public who are searching for missing family members to visit the command and help identify the rescued victims.
The commandant assured that the suspects would face prosecution once investigations are completed.
“After the conclusion of investigations, the suspects will be charged to court to serve as a deterrent to others involved in similar criminal activities,” he said.
The latest discovery comes months after the Lagos NSCDC uncovered a baby factory in the Ilado area of Badagry, where several pregnant women and children were rescued and the operators arrested.
