Operatives of Nigeria Immigration Service (NIS) have arrested one Ouattra Adama, a Burkinabé national alleged to be leader of QNET/IGNITE organised criminal syndicate alongside 11 other suspected facilitators of the fraudulent scheme in various parts of Lagos.
The other suspects include eight Liberians and three Cameroonian, DCI Akinsola Akinlabi, the spokesperson of NIS said in a statement issued on Tuesday in Abuja
He added that the NIS operatives also rescued two Liberians who are victims of illegal activities of the transnational organized criminal syndicate active in Lagos and Ogun States.
He added that the 12 suspects and the two victims have been transferred to the Service Headquarters for further investigation and necessary legal action.
The statement by Akinlabi reads “As part of the ongoing efforts to combat irregular migration and transnational organized crimes in the country, the Nigeria Immigration Service has dismantled a fraudulent network marketing ring linked to the QNET/IGNITE group, a transnational organized criminal syndicate active in Lagos and Ogun States.
“The operational breakthrough was based on actionable intelligence on the activities of Trafficking Syndicates across Lagos and Ogun States. Consequently, the Service intensified its operations, leading to the arrest of one Ouattra Adama (M), a Burkinabé national and alleged leader of the QNET/IGNITE syndicate, alongside eleven (11) other suspected facilitators, comprising eight (8) Liberians, and three (3) Cameroonians in various parts of Lagos. The operation also led to rescue of two (2) Liberians who are victims of their 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.
“The Service wishes to advise members of the public to verify all employment, educational, business, and other migration offers 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. It also underscores the Service resolve to rid the country of all forms of irregular migration and transnational organized crimes, in tandem with the renewed hope agenda of the President Bola Ahmed Tinubu led administration.
