Operatives of the Nasarawa State police command, on Sunday, rescued 39 foreign nationals illegally transported from Mali for non-existent jobs in France, but held captive in Orange Market, Mararaba, Karu Local Government Area.

According to a statement on X, the Commissioner of Police, Shettima Mohammed Jauro, during a press briefing at the command headquarters in Lafia on Monday, disclosed the busting of the human trafficking syndicate.

Mr Jauro said officers attached to the Mararaba ‘A’ Division rescued 38 Malian and one Ivorian national, adding that operatives are on the hunt to apprehend the suspected human trafficker, who is a Malian national resident in Nigeria.

Mr Jauro said, “On 30th November, 2025, at about 10:40 hours, based on credible intelligence that some persons suspected to be foreign nationals who speak only French and Arabic had been sighted about a week earlier at Orange Market Mararababa, Karu Local Government Area. I immediately directed the Divisional Police Officer, Mararaba ‘A’ Division, to move to the scene for prompt action.

“Preliminary investigation revealed that about one week earlier, one Abdullahi Berter (Male), a Malian national resident in Nigeria, allegedly lured the victims under the pretext of securing job opportunities for them in France. The suspect illegally transported them from Mali to Orange Market, Mararaba, where they were held captive in a bungalow and instructed to invite more persons into Nigeria for an undisclosed operation.

“Upon receipt of this information, a team of police detectives was immediately mobilised to the location, where thirty-two (32) males and seven (7) females, all Malian nationals with the exception of one person from Ivory Coast, were rescued from a bungalow at Orange Market, Mararaba, Karu LGA. The prime suspect is currently at large, and a manhunt has been launched to apprehend him and any other members of the trafficking syndicate connected to this crime.”

The police commissioner stated that the rescued victims will be formally handed over to the Nigeria Immigration Service for further investigation and necessary action in line with the law.

He said the development highlights the command’s zero tolerance for human trafficking and its firm commitment to dismantling networks that exploit vulnerable persons within and beyond the state.