The Ogun State Police Command has announced the successful dismantling of a notorious syndicate of Cameroonian nationals allegedly involved in kidnapping victims under the guise of visa processing.
According to reports, operatives of the anti-kidnapping unit apprehended two suspects during a raid on the group’s hideout in Mowe, along the Lagos-Ibadan expressway, while the gang leader remains on the run.
Omolola Odutola, the spokesperson of the Ogun State Police Command, stated that the operation was launched following a distress call from a Cameroonian woman, Kengne Maeva, who was deceived into coming to Nigeria on September 29, 2025, by a man identified as Donald.
Investigations revealed that Donald had promised to secure a Canadian visa for Maeva but instead held her and her younger sister hostage in a two-bedroom apartment in Pakuro, Ogun State.
Odutola said Maeva managed to escape on November 3 and reported the incident to the police, revealing that other victims were still being detained.
A subsequent police raid led to the arrest of Ndzana Kamga Isidore and Tingue Stephen.
According to police findings, families of the victims in Cameroon had already transferred 3.6 million CFA francs into the bank account of the fugitive suspect.
“Shortly after she arrived at Murtala Mohammed Airport, Lagos, she was received by the supposed ‘agency’ which provided transportation from Lagos to Mowe, Ogun state, where she and her younger sister, aged 23 years, were held hostage,” the statement reads.
“On 3rd November 2025, the complainant escaped from captivity and alerted the police, disclosing that more victims who fell for the same ploy were being held in a two-bedroom flat in the Pakuro area of Ogun State.”
Lanre Ogunlowo, the Ogun State Commissioner of Police, has directed increased surveillance of similar fraudulent schemes across the state. He instructed tactical commanders to work closely with community leaders, particularly in rural areas, to report any suspicious activities involving foreign nationals renting properties.
The command reaffirmed its commitment to safeguarding lives and property, emphasizing that criminal elements will find no safe haven in Ogun State.