OGUN STATE POLICE RESCUE NINE FOREIGN NATIONALS, BUST TRANSNATIONAL TRAVEL SCAM SYNDICATE

OGUN STATE POLICE RESCUE NINE FOREIGN NATIONALS, BUST TRANSNATIONAL TRAVEL SCAM SYNDICATE 


By Jennifer Nwosu 

A coordinated law enforcement operation in Ogun State has exposed a cross-border fraud network that preyed on the hopes of would-be migrants, rescuing nine foreign nationals and arresting two suspects accused of orchestrating a deceptive travel scheme.

The operation, carried out by the Anti-Kidnapping Unit of the Ogun State Police Command, followed intelligence shared through INTERPOL and culminated in a raid on a hideout in Owode Egba. In a statement released on Monday, the Police Public Relations Officer, DSP Oluseyi B. Babaseyi, said the mission was swiftly executed based on actionable intelligence, leading to the rescue of the victims and the arrest of two suspects, Stephen Kwame and Abubakar Sulaimon. He noted that the victims were found under unlawful confinement and have since been secured while investigations continue.

Authorities say the syndicate targeted foreign nationals, particularly from Ghana by luring them to Nigeria with false promises of facilitating travel to Europe. Instead, victims were detained and coerced into contacting relatives for money under false pretenses. One of the victims, identified as Maclaud Owusu, 40, was allegedly defrauded of 31,000 Ghana cedis before the police intervened.

The raid not only freed Owusu but also eight others held in similar conditions, underscoring what officials describe as a troubling pattern of exploitation tied to irregular migration routes. While Owusu has been reunited with his family, efforts are ongoing to reconnect the remaining victims with their relatives.
Police authorities say the suspects will be charged to court upon the conclusion of investigations, with efforts underway to apprehend other members of the network believed to be operating across borders.

The Commissioner of Police in Ogun State, CP Bode Ojajuni, praised the operation as a testament to effective collaboration between local and international law enforcement agencies. He reiterated the command’s commitment to dismantling criminal enterprises that exploit vulnerable individuals.

The case adds to growing concerns about transnational fraud schemes that capitalize on economic desperation and the allure of migration. Police officials have urged the public to exercise caution in international travel arrangements and to verify the legitimacy of agents, warning that such syndicates often operate under the guise of opportunity.

Residents are also encouraged to report suspicious activities through the command’s emergency lines, through the Ogun State Police Command emergency lines: Gateway Shield (Toll-Free): 0800 000 9111; Emergency numbers: 0906 283 7609, 0912 014 1706, 0915 102 7369 and 0708 497 2994.

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