The Nigeria Police Force, Zone 6 Headquarters in Calabar, has dismantled a major kidnapping, job scam and “Japa” syndicate operating in Cross River State, rescuing more than 100 victims and rejecting an alleged N50 million bribe meant to obstruct the investigation.
In a statement issued on February 14, 2026, the Zonal Public Relations Officer, DSP Jefferson Osupe Anisma, said the operation was executed by the Zonal Criminal Investigation Department following credible intelligence on the criminal network’s activities.
According to the police, the syndicate preyed on unsuspecting Nigerians, particularly young people seeking opportunities abroad, using deception and psychological coercion. Victims were allegedly convinced to sell personal belongings and part with life savings under the pretext of securing visas, foreign citizenship and lucrative overseas employment.
Anisma said the Assistant Inspector-General of Police in charge of Zone 6, Auwal Musa Mohammad, upon receiving the intelligence, directed the Deputy Commissioner of Police overseeing the ZCID, Udu Moses Ogechi, to take immediate action.
Acting on the directive, operatives launched a coordinated raid at about 6:00 a.m. on February 14, dismantling what authorities described as a well-organized criminal enterprise. Preliminary findings indicated that the syndicate exploited the growing “Japa” migration trend, targeting youths eager to relocate abroad. Victims were allegedly persuaded to resign from their jobs, dispose of valuable assets and transfer substantial sums of money to the suspects.
Rather than facilitating travel, the suspects reportedly lured victims to designated locations within the state, where they were psychologically manipulated and financially drained. Some victims were allegedly compelled to recruit others into the scheme, thereby sustaining the operation.
To maintain the illusion of successful relocation, the syndicate reportedly accommodated victims in well-furnished apartments, staged photographs in attractive settings and instructed them to post the images on social media to mislead family and friends. In some cases, victims were forcibly integrated into the network and assigned roles to perpetuate the fraud.
During the operation, police arrested key suspects and rescued more than 100 victims from various locations across the state. The victims have since been handed over to the state government for care, profiling and reintegration support.
The police further disclosed that members of the syndicate allegedly attempted to compromise the investigation with a ₦50 million bribe, which officers firmly rejected. The force described the refusal as a demonstration of professionalism and integrity.
The Assistant Inspector-General commended the operatives for what he termed a significant breakthrough, praising their resilience and tactical efficiency. He reaffirmed the zone’s commitment to eliminating criminal syndicates targeting vulnerable citizens and said efforts were ongoing to apprehend fleeing members of the group.
