The Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps has uncovered an illegal detention facility in the Itoga area of Badagry, Lagos State, rescuing 24 victims and arresting four suspected members of a cross-border criminal network.
According to the Lagos State Command, the operation was carried out after credible intelligence linked the location to suspected criminal activities.
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The raid led to the arrest of the alleged ringleader alongside three other suspects believed to be foreign nationals from Togo, Benin Republic, and Ghana.
Officials said the facility was used to detain victims who were allegedly lured from different countries under false promises. Among those rescued were 18 males, six females, and a toddler.
Preliminary findings revealed that some victims had been missing for periods ranging from several months to as long as three years before the operation uncovered their whereabouts.
Authorities also alleged that the suspects used psychological manipulation, forcing some victims to call their families while claiming they had been kidnapped or involved in accidents in order to extort money.
The NSCDC further disclosed that victims were reportedly coerced into criminal activities, including fraud and drug-related offences, while being held at the camp.
Command officials confirmed that investigations are ongoing and that the suspects will be prosecuted after the inquiry is concluded.
They also called on members of the public with missing relatives to come forward to help identify the rescued individuals.
The agency reaffirmed its commitment to dismantling criminal hideouts and urged residents to continue providing credible intelligence to security agencies.
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