Ogun State Police Command has announced the dismantling of a suspected human trafficking and kidnapping syndicate operated by Cameroonian nationals who allegedly lured their victims into Nigeria with promises of visa processing.
The Command disclosed this in a statement issued on Friday by its spokesperson, CSP Omolola Odutola.
According to the statement, the syndicate was uncovered during a raid conducted by the Command’s Anti-Kidnapping Unit in Mowe, along the Lagos-Ibadan Expressway.
Two suspects, Ndzana Kamga Isidore and Tingue Stephen, were arrested during the operation, while the alleged ringleader, identified as Donald, escaped arrest and is currently being tracked by the police.
The Police said preliminary investigations indicated that relatives of some of the victims in Cameroon had already paid 3,600,000 CFA into the bank account of the fleeing suspect, believing the money was meant for legitimate visa processing.
The Command explained that the operation followed a distress report made by a victim, Kengne Maeva, who stated that she and her 23-year-old sister had been deceived and brought into Nigeria on September 29, 2025, with the promise of Canadian visas.
She was reportedly taken from Murtala Mohammed Airport, Lagos, to Mowe, Ogun State, where she said they were held against their will.
According to the Police, the victim escaped from the location on November 3, 2025, and alerted the Anti-Kidnapping Unit, revealing that other victims were being kept in a two-bedroom apartment in the Pakuro area of the state.
Acting on the report, a tactical team raided the apartment, rescued the complainant, and secured the arrest of two suspects.
The Commissioner of Police, Lanre Ogunlowo, has directed divisional and tactical heads to heighten surveillance and collaborate closely with community leaders, especially in remote areas where apartments are rented to foreign nationals without proper background checks.
The Command reaffirmed its commitment to safeguarding the public, adding that efforts to apprehend the fleeing suspect and dismantle associated networks are ongoing.
