Detectives of the Ogun State Police Command have dismantled a cross-border criminal network that allegedly staged fake kidnappings to extort money from families abroad, leading to the arrest of eight foreign nationals in Agbado, Ogun State.
The suspects were arrested in an intelligence-driven operation by officers attached to the Ifo Division after a reported kidnapping case was flagged for investigation and later discovered to be a staged plot.
Those arrested include nationals from Burkina Faso, Mauritania, Ivory Coast, Republic of Benin, and Côte d’Ivoire, identified as Zakaria Zawadogo (34), Cheik El-Mehdi (23), Suren Neta (25), Koffi Breno (36), Gondo Treso (32), Kunuji Ezekiel (27), Kougasi John, and Hemue Blinsi (30).
Police said the operation was triggered after a complaint on June 6, 2026, that one of the suspects had contacted his family abroad claiming to have been kidnapped and demanding ransom for release. Another suspect allegedly reinforced the demand with threats to kill the supposed victim if payment was not made.
Following intelligence-led tracking, operatives located the suspects’ hideout in Adiyan Town, Agbado, where Zawadogo was first arrested and later led officers to the remaining members of the syndicate.
Investigations revealed the entire operation was a coordinated scam designed to deceive relatives overseas into paying ransom. Police further disclosed that one of the suspects allegedly brought the supposed victim into Nigeria, while another coordinated the ransom and threats. The alleged victim was also found to have participated in planning the scheme.
The command said Zawadogo, El-Mehdi and Neta have confessed to involvement, while further investigation is ongoing to determine wider links and possible connections to other criminal networks.
The case has been transferred to the State Criminal Investigation Department (SCID) for further investigation.
Ogun State Commissioner of Police, CP Bode Ojajuni, praised the officers for their swift and professional response, noting that the case highlights the increasing sophistication of transnational crime. He assured residents of continued intelligence-led policing and urged the public to report suspicious activities promptly.
