THE Nigeria Immigration Service (NIS) has dismantled a fraudulent network marketing ring linked to the QNET/IGNITE group, arresting 12 suspects, including the alleged syndicate leader and rescuing two victims in coordinated operations across Lagos State.

In a statement on Tuesday, the Service Public Relations Officer, DCI AS Akinlabi, said the breakthrough followed actionable intelligence on trafficking syndicates operating in both states.

The statement said one Ouattra Adama, a Burkinabe national identified as the alleged leader of the QNET/IGNITE syndicate, was arrested alongside 11 other suspected facilitators. The facilitators comprised eight Liberians and three Cameroonians.

The operation also led to the rescue of two Liberian nationals, who were identified as victims of the syndicate’s illegal activities.

“Accordingly, the 12 suspects and the two victims have been transferred to the Service Headquarters for further investigation and necessary legal action,” the statement stated.

The NIS said QNET/IGNITE network is a transnational organized criminal syndicate involved in fraudulent employment and business schemes linked to irregular migration.

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The Service urged members of the public to verify all offers of employment, education, business, and migration through appropriate channels before making financial commitments or embarking on international travel.

“The arrest of the syndicate leader and other facilitators demonstrates Nigeria Immigration Service’s commitment to intelligence-driven Border Management,” the statement said. 

It added that the operation “underscores the Service resolve to rid the country of all forms of irregular migration and transnational organized crimes, in tandem with the renewed hope agenda of the President Bola Ahmed Tinubu led administration.”

The service further said that investigations are ongoing to identify other members of the network and possible victims across the country.