Police Rescue Seven Young Men Tortured in Delta ‘Hustlers’ Kingdom’ Apartment

Police Rescue Seven Young Men Tortured in Delta ‘Hustlers’ Kingdom’ Apartment

The Delta State Police Command has rescued seven young men allegedly held and tortured in an apartment in Warri by a syndicate operating under the name “Hustlers’ Kingdom,” which reportedly lured them with promises of training in internet fraud, popularly known as “yahoo yahoo.”

The victims were freed after one of them, a 28-year-old identified as Chukwuike, escaped through a window and alerted security operatives. His escape triggered a police raid on the building.

Police spokesperson, SP Bright Edafe, said on Sunday that the victims were held for weeks and subjected to severe beatings, starvation, and isolation.

According to Chukwuike, “We barely ate. Sometimes we ate once a day, then went four days without food. Anytime we said we wanted to leave, the chairman beat us with a cane. The marks on my back came from the beating because we didn’t have a paying client.”

Another victim, a 23-year-old from Benue State, said he had been prevented from returning home for about a month.

Edafe confirmed that the seven victims had visible injuries consistent with severe whipping. Two suspects described as the “chairmen” of the HK ring were arrested during the operation.

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The victims are currently receiving medical treatment, while the suspects remain in custody and will face charges including human trafficking, unlawful confinement, assault, and exploitation.

The police spokesman added that investigations are ongoing to uncover other similar criminal networks operating across the state. He urged parents and communities to remain alert, noting that syndicates increasingly disguise torture camps as “training centres.”

“We will continue to clamp down on syndicates exploiting our youth. Protecting young people from harm and manipulation is a priority for the Delta State Police Command,” Edafe said.