The Lagos State Police Command has apprehended 26 foreign nationals after investigating a reported kidnapping case that was later discovered to be false.
According to the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN), those apprehended include 19 Chadians and seven Cameroonians.
The case began when a 22-year-old Cameroonian woman reported that she had been kidnapped after travelling to Nigeria to meet a 39-year-old Chadian man with whom she had developed an online relationship.
However, police investigations later revealed that the kidnapping claim was unfounded and was allegedly made after the woman discovered that the man was married.
Following the report, the Lagos State Commissioner of Police, Mr Fatai Tijani, directed that the matter be transferred from Area N Command, Ijede, Ikorodu, to the State Criminal Investigation Department (SCID), Yaba, for further investigation.
A police source told NAN on Friday that the complaint, lodged on June 16, triggered an immediate rescue operation.
The source explained that language barriers initially complicated the investigation, as the woman was unable to communicate fluently in English, leading officers to treat the allegation as a genuine kidnapping case.
“The woman travelled from Cameroon to meet her lover whom she had been communicating with online but became disappointed after discovering that he was married.
“She subsequently sought a way to return home without informing him and reported that she had been kidnapped,” the source said.
During the investigation, police operatives traced the location where the woman claimed she was being held and found several foreign nationals living in an apartment.
The operation resulted in the apprehension of 26 foreigners between the ages of 19 and 50, including four women.
According to the source, the individuals claimed to be engaged in a networking business associated with a company identified as Ignite.
“The foreigners could not provide valid travel documents, while some are suspected to have entered the country through irregular routes.
“They are currently undergoing profiling and immigration-related checks to determine their legal status and whether any laws have been violated,” the source added.
The investigation is being handled by the Diplomatic and Foreigners Desk of the SCID under the supervision of the Deputy Commissioner of Police in charge of the department, Mr Dayo Akinbisehin.
Police said investigations are ongoing and that appropriate action will be taken based on the findings.
