Operatives of the Ogun State Police Command have dismantled a suspected transnational travel fraud ring, rescuing nine foreign nationals allegedly lured into Nigeria under false pretences of securing passage to Europe.
The police said two suspects, identified as Stephen Kwame and Abubakar Sulaimon, were arrested during a raid on their hideout in the Owode Egba area of the state, following intelligence reports.
The operation, carried out by the Anti-Kidnapping Unit, was said to have been triggered by actionable intelligence received through INTERPOL, leading to the swift rescue of the victims who were reportedly held against their will.
Confirming the development on Tuesday, the state Police Public Relations Officer, Oluseyi Babaseyi, disclosed that the victims—mostly foreign nationals—were deceived into travelling to Nigeria with promises of relocation to Europe but were instead defrauded and confined.
According to him, one of the victims, a 40-year-old Ghanaian, Maclaud Owusu, alongside eight others, was found at the location and rescued unhurt.
Babaseyi explained that the syndicate allegedly seized the victims’ mobile phones upon arrival and used them to contact their families and associates abroad to extort money under false claims.
He said the principal victim had already been swindled of 31,000 Ghanaian cedis before the police intervention.
“The rescue followed a coordinated response to credible intelligence. Upon arrival at the location, operatives discovered multiple victims held under similar circumstances and successfully secured their release,” the police spokesman said.
He added that while Owusu had since been reunited with his family, efforts were ongoing to reconnect the other victims with their relatives.
The police noted that investigations were still in progress to track down other members of the syndicate who remain at large.
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Babaseyi, however, cautioned the public against falling prey to fraudulent travel offers, urging individuals to verify opportunities thoroughly before committing funds or embarking on international trips.
