The Lagos State Command of the Nigeria and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) has uncovered a camp allegedly linked to human trafficking, fraudulent network marketing, extortion and unlawful detention in the Torikoh area of Badagry, Lagos State.
The operation led to the arrest of four suspects, the rescue of 17 victims and the recovery of several exhibits.
Parading the suspects and exhibits on Monday, May 11, 2026, the Lagos State Commandant, Mr Adedotun Keshinro, represented by the spokesperson, Oluwasegun Abolurin, said the operation was carried out through intelligence-driven tactics championed by the Commandant General of the Corps, Prof. Ahmed Abubakar Audi, to combat insecurity across the country.
Keshinro said the command received a complaint on Thursday, May 7, 2026, from a 28-year-old nurse from the Central African Republic, Mr Atokar Allah Iderim, who alleged that he was deceived, extorted and unlawfully detained by a syndicate operating under the guise of a network marketing business identified as “QNET.”
According to the commandant, the victim told operatives that he was lured to Togo and later Nigeria by a Facebook acquaintance identified as Lansu Alex with promises of better employment opportunities.
The statement said the victim alleged that upon arriving in Nigeria, he was compelled to register for the Internet marketing scheme and was subsequently extorted by its operators, who failed to fulfil their promises.
He added that the victim further alleged that the operators forcefully collected and sold his mobile phone and power bank, destroyed his SIM cards and handed him N10,000 for feeding while he sought funds to register for the business scheme.
The commandant said the command immediately launched an operation at the Torikoh camp following verification of the intelligence report.
He stated that operatives arrested four male suspects, comprising three Togolese nationals and one Beninese national, while rescuing 17 victims made up of 12 males and five females.
Keshinro alleged that the suspects attempted to bribe NSCDC operatives with 130,000 CFA, which was rejected and retained as part of the exhibits linked to the case.
Other items recovered included an HP laptop, files, QNET letter-headed papers, leather bags, phones and pharmaceutical items allegedly used on victims.
Preliminary investigations, according to the commandant, revealed that intending members of the scheme were allegedly required to pay 650,000 CFA as a registration fee before joining the business.
He added that investigations also showed that the syndicate allegedly operated four other camps in Aradagun, Mowo, Badagry Town and Limca areas of Badagry.
Keshinro warned those involved in human trafficking, fraud and economic sabotage to desist from such activities, assuring that investigations were ongoing to identify collaborators, seal the camps and determine the culpability of all persons connected to the operation.