Operatives of the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) in Badagry, Lagos State have uncovered a suspected cross-border recruitment and network marketing syndicate following the arrest of 21 foreign nationals allegedly linked to a fraudulent scheme.
CityMood Badagry reports that the NSCDC said the arrests followed a complaint lodged on May 6, 2026, by a Central African Republic national, Atokari Iderim, who alleged he was deceived and unlawfully confined by persons connected to a business platform identified as QNET.
According to the agency, the complainant told operatives he was promised employment opportunities and arrangements to travel to Cameroon but was instead pressured into registering for the business scheme after arriving in Nigeria.
The Suspects, Photo Credit: CityMood
He alleged that his mobile phone was seized and sold while his foreign SIM cards were destroyed.
The complainant also said he was later given 10,000 naira ($6.2) for feeding and warned not to leave the premises until he sourced money to register for the scheme.
Following the complaint, the NSCDC said it operatives raided the Torikoh area of Badagry, where it arrested 21 people comprising 16 men and five women.
The agency identified the identified the suspects as nationals of Togo, Benin Republic and the Central African Republic.
The NSCDC said that some of the suspects identified themselves as leaders and trainers within the organisation. It added that preliminary investigations showed that recruits were allegedly required to pay about 650,000 CFA francs before participating in the scheme.
CliqMetro gathered that the group specialised in luring young people from neighbouring African countries into Nigeria with promises of better economic opportunities.
The NSCDC said further investigations indicated that the syndicate operated through camps and branches located in Aradagun, Mowo, Badagry Town and the Limca area of Badagry, Lagos State southwest Nigeria.
The Corps said the suspects have been transferred to the Nigeria Immigration Service for further investigation over alleged immigration-related offences after several were reportedly found without valid travel documents.
It added that investigations were ongoing to determine the full scope of the operation and identify other possible collaborators over allegations including irregular migration, fraudulent recruitment, extortion and unlawful restriction of movement.