The Lagos State Command of the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) has busted a notorious camp in Torikoh, Badagry.
The operation dismantled a sophisticated syndicate involved in illegal migration, human trafficking, and a fraudulent network marketing scheme operating under the name “QNET.”
The crackdown, fueled by technology-driven intelligence championed by the Commandant General, Prof. Ahmed Abubakar Audi, resulted in the arrest of four key suspects, three Togolese and one Beninese national, and the rescue of 17 victims held against their will.
The operation was triggered on Thursday, May 7, 2026, when Mr. Atokar Allah Iderim, a 28-year-old nurse from the Central African Republic, escaped what he described as a “den of lions” and reported the syndicate to the Badagry Division.
Mr Iderim revealed he was lured from his home country by a Facebook friend with the promise of a high-paying job in Nigeria, only to be stripped of his belongings and detained.
“I was compelled to register for a fraudulent scheme after being lured with false promises,” Mr. Iderim told investigators. He further alleged that the operators seized his mobile phone and power bank, sold them, and destroyed his SIM cards to prevent him from contacting his family or the authorities.
Following this credible report, the Lagos State Commandant, Mr. Adedotun Keshinro, deployed a tactical team led by Chief Superintendent Ekunola Gbenga. The team stormed the Torikoh camp, rescuing 12 men and 5 women, all aged between 25 and 35.
During the raid, the suspects attempted to subvert justice by offering a bribe of 130,000 CFA to the NSCDC officers. The bribe was rejected and subsequently paraded alongside other recovered exhibits, which included an HP laptop, QNET letterheaded documents, and various pharmaceutical items used to deceive victims.
Commandant Keshinro, while parading the suspects, disclosed that the syndicate mandated a registration fee of 650,000 CFA from unsuspecting recruits. “These perpetrators operate a cross-border crime ring similar to those seen in other West African countries, bringing victims into Nigeria to inflict pain, hardship, and economic sabotage,” Keshinro stated. He further noted that the “products” sold through the scheme were allegedly shipped in from Malaysia through unverified channels.
The NSCDC has identified four additional camps used by the syndicate in Aradagun, Mowo, Badagry Town, and Limca. While two of these camps have already been raided, the Command confirmed that the locations will be sealed to prevent further criminal activity.
“I am using this opportunity to warn perpetrators of these heinous crimes to desist immediately or face the full wrath of the law,” Commandant Keshinro warned. “We will not spare anyone found culpable in destroying the social and financial integrity of our society.”
In the spirit of inter-agency collaboration, the Lagos State Command has directed that all suspects and victims be handed over to the Nigeria Immigration Service (NIS) for further investigation and prosecution. The Command assured the public that ongoing investigations aim to identify all collaborators and shut down the network’s entire infrastructure.
