…Suspects stage fake abduction to extort families abroad
The Ogun State Police Command has uncovered a transnational criminal syndicate specialising in staged kidnappings and ransom fraud, arresting eight foreign nationals linked to the operation.
The suspects, drawn from West and North African countries, were apprehended during an intelligence-led raid in Adiyan area of Agbado, following a tip-off over a suspected fake abduction.
Those arrested include five Ivorians — Suren Neta, Koffi Breno, Gondo Treso, Kougasi John, and Hemue Blinsi — alongside Zakaria Zawadogo from Burkina Faso, Cheik El-Mehdi from Mauritania, and Kunuji Ezekiel from the Republic of Benin.
The police said the arrests followed a complaint lodged on June 6, 2026, by an informant who raised the alarm after El-Mehdi allegedly contacted his family abroad, claiming he had been kidnapped in Nigeria and demanding ransom.
Investigations revealed that Zawadogo reinforced the false claim, issuing threats that the supposed victim would be killed if payment was not made.
Acting swiftly, detectives traced the suspects to their hideout, where Zawadogo was first arrested before leading operatives to other members of the syndicate.
“The operation was intelligence-driven and prevented what could have become a successful cross-border financial crime,” the command said.
Preliminary findings showed the group deliberately orchestrated the fake kidnapping as part of a coordinated scheme to defraud unsuspecting relatives overseas.
Police further disclosed that Neta allegedly lured El-Mehdi into Nigeria, while Zawadogo coordinated ransom demands.
In a shocking twist, investigators confirmed that the supposed victim, El-Mehdi, was an active participant in the plot.
“The principal suspects have confessed to their roles in the conspiracy,” the police said, adding that efforts were ongoing to unravel the full scope of the syndicate’s activities and possible links to wider international crime networks.
The suspects have been transferred to the State Criminal Investigation Department for further discreet investigation.
The Commissioner of Police in the state, Bode Ojajuni, commended the оперативes for their swift and professional response, noting that the breakthrough underscores the growing sophistication of transnational crimes.
He reassured residents that Ogun State remains hostile to criminal elements, pledging sustained intelligence gathering and stronger collaboration with international security agencies to combat organised crime.
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