In what security experts are describing as a watershed moment in international law enforcement cooperation, the Nigeria Police Force has successfully repatriated a notorious Chinese fugitive, Mr. Dai Qisheng, to the People’s Republic of China.
Qisheng, a high-profile gang leader wanted in Guizhou Province for leading a violent organized crime network, had been on the run since 2024 after Chinese authorities issued a warrant for his arrest. His desperate bid to evade justice led him to Nigeria, where he attempted to remain under the radar.
But his luck ran out on August 8, 2025, when operatives of INTERPOL National Central Bureau (NCB) Abuja, acting on intelligence and under tight surveillance, apprehended him in Abuja. Just a week later, on August 15, he was flown back to Beijing under a coordinated police-to-police framework involving INTERPOL NCB Abuja, INTERPOL NCB Beijing, and the Embassy of the People’s Republic of China in Nigeria.
A Blow Against Transnational Crime
Security analysts say the operation is a major statement of intent by Nigeria in the global fight against organized crime. “This is not just about one fugitive. It is about showing that Nigeria will not provide a safe haven for international criminals,” one security source told Fresh Facts Magazine.
The Inspector-General of Police, IGP Olukayode Adeolu Egbetokun, Ph.D, NPM, hailed the development as proof of the Force’s increasing effectiveness in international cooperation. He stressed that the operation sends a “clear message to criminals worldwide that the Federal Republic of Nigeria will not be a hiding place for fugitives.”
Strengthening International Partnerships
The repatriation of Qisheng underscores the growing importance of intelligence sharing and cross-border policing in an era where crime syndicates operate beyond geographical boundaries. Nigeria’s active role within the INTERPOL network has been crucial in this success, further boosting the country’s reputation in international security circles.
For Nigeria, the operation is a double victory: it not only bolsters global trust in its policing system but also reassures citizens that the country is actively closing its borders to criminal exploitation.
As Deputy Commissioner of Police Olumuyiwa Adejobi, Force Public Relations Officer, noted in his briefing, the success of the Qisheng operation demonstrates the Force’s “unyielding commitment to ensuring that no fugitive finds sanctuary in Nigeria.”
