BADAGRY, LAGOS – Operatives of the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC), Badagry Command, have dismantled a sophisticated cross-border criminal syndicate, arresting 21 foreign nationals allegedly involved in a fraudulent recruitment and network marketing scam.
The suspects, comprising 16 males and five females from Togo, Benin Republic, and the Central African Republic, were apprehended during a targeted raid in the Torikoh area of Badagry. The group is accused of luring victims into Nigeria under false pretenses before subjecting them to extortion and unlawful confinement.
The operation was triggered by a daring complaint lodged on May 6, 2026, by Mr. Atokari Allah Iderim, a citizen of the Central African Republic. Iderim revealed that he was deceived into traveling to Nigeria with the promise of a lucrative job and safe passage to Cameroon.
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Upon his arrival, the reality was far grimmer. Iderim alleged that the syndicate seized his mobile phone, destroyed his foreign SIM cards, and held him captive. He and other victims were reportedly pressured to join a business scheme identified as QNET, with a staggering registration fee of 650,000 CFA francs (approximately ₦770,000).
"I was given only N10,000 for feeding and warned not to leave the premises until I could raise the money to register," the complainant stated in his report to the NSCDC.
Preliminary investigations suggest the group operated a multi-layered "network marketing" structure designed to exploit vulnerable job seekers from across Africa. The NSCDC discovered that the syndicate maintained several "camps" or branches strategically located in: Aradagun and Mowo, Badagry Town, Limca Area
Several of the arrested individuals have identified themselves as "leaders" and "trainers" within the organization. Their primary tactic involved promising better economic opportunities in Nigeria, only to restrict victims' movements and coerce them into high-interest debt schemes.
Due to the international nature of the crimes and the absence of valid travel documents among the suspects, the NSCDC has transferred the group to the Nigeria Immigration Service (NIS) for further processing.
A spokesperson for the NSCDC noted that the investigation is expanding to uncover the full scope of the syndicate’s network.
"We are working to identify other collaborators and establish formal charges including irregular migration, fraudulent recruitment, extortion, and unlawful restriction of movement," the agency confirmed.