The Nigeria Police Force has rescued a Ghanaian national, Sammed Iddrisu, who was lured into Nigeria under the false pretense of receiving travel documents for migration to Europe. The rescue was carried out by the INTERPOL National Central Bureau (NCB) Abuja in collaboration with the FCT Police Command, following intelligence from INTERPOL NCB Accra, Ghana.
According to a statement released on July 1, 2025, by the Force Public Relations Officer, ACP Olumuyiwa Adejobi, the operation took place on June 27 in Abuja after authorities received a distress alert about the victim’s situation.
Investigations revealed that on January 10, 2025, the victim’s father, Mr. Nartey Louda, was defrauded of GHC 55,000 by a suspected trafficker identified as Attah. The trafficker had promised to facilitate a French visa and related travel arrangements for the victim. Based on these promises, the young man traveled to Abuja on June 25, expecting to receive the promised documents.
However, upon arrival, Sammed was unlawfully detained and coerced into participating in online scams linked to the QNET pyramid scheme — a fraudulent operation masquerading as an e-commerce platform. The syndicate reportedly targets foreign nationals and forces them into cybercrime rings.
The case came to light after another Ghanaian victim managed to escape and report the incident to Ghanaian authorities, prompting international police coordination that led to the successful rescue.
The police confirmed that reintegration procedures are currently underway for the rescued victim, while efforts are being intensified to arrest all persons connected to the transnational crime syndicate.
“The INTERPOL NCB Abuja has initiated necessary steps to ensure these fraudulent individuals are apprehended and made to face the full wrath of the law,” the statement noted.
The Nigeria Police used the occasion to warn the public against falling for fake travel offers and called for vigilance when dealing with individuals or organisations offering visa and migration assistance.
“Members of the public are advised to exercise due diligence, verify travel-related offers through official diplomatic channels, and report all suspicious persons or activities through appropriate law enforcement channels,” the Force PRO cautioned.
The rescue marks another milestone in the Police Force’s crackdown on transnational crime and human trafficking, reinforcing its resolve to protect both Nigerian citizens and foreign nationals within the country.