By Emma Una

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 ?50 million bribe intended to derail the investigation.

In a statement issued on February 14, 2026, the Zonal Public Relations Officer, DSP Jefferson Osupe Anisma, said the operation was carried out by the Zonal Criminal Investigation Department (ZCID) following credible intelligence on the activities of the criminal network.

According to the police, the syndicate specialized in manipulating unsuspecting Nigerians—particularly young people seeking opportunities abroad—through psychological coercion and deception. Victims were allegedly persuaded to sell personal property and surrender life savings under the guise 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 in charge of ZCID, Udu Moses Ogechi, to take decisive action.

Acting on the directive, ZCID operatives launched a coordinated operation at about 6:00 a.m. on February 14, dismantling what authorities described as an organized criminal enterprise. Preliminary investigations revealed that the syndicate exploited the prevailing “Japa” trend by targeting youths eager to relocate abroad. Victims were allegedly persuaded to resign from their jobs, dispose of valuable assets, and transfer substantial sums to the suspects.

Rather than facilitating travel, the syndicate reportedly lured victims to designated locations within Cross River State, where they were psychologically manipulated and financially incapacitated. Some victims were coerced into recruiting additional targets, thereby sustaining the operation.

To maintain the deception, the suspects allegedly housed victims in well-furnished apartments, staged photographs in appealing environments, and instructed them to share the images on social media to falsely suggest successful relocation abroad. Some victims were forcibly integrated into the network and assigned operational roles to perpetuate the scheme.

During the operation, DCP Ogechi and his team apprehended key suspects and rescued more than 100 victims from various locations. The victims have been handed over to the Cross River State Government for care, profiling, and reintegration support.

Police said the syndicate attempted to compromise the investigation with a ?50 million bribe, which was firmly rejected—an action the force described as a demonstration of professionalism and integrity.

The Assistant Inspector-General commended the operatives for what he termed a remarkable operational breakthrough, praising their resilience and tactical efficiency. He reaffirmed the zone’s commitment to ridding the region of criminal syndicates targeting vulnerable citizens and disclosed that investigations are ongoing to apprehend fleeing members of the group.