Ogun Police Bust International Kidnapping Syndicate
The Ogun State Police Command has made significant progress in combating organized crime with the arrest of two Cameroonian nationals connected to a sophisticated human trafficking and kidnapping network. According to police authorities, the suspects were part of a criminal group that specialized in luring victims with false promises of overseas visa processing.
Victim's Harrowing Escape Leads to Breakthrough
Police spokesperson Chief Superintendent of Police (CSP) Omolola Odutola revealed that the case unfolded when a Cameroonian woman managed to escape captivity on November 3, 2025. The victim reported that she had arrived in Nigeria on September 29, 2025, after being deceived by a fellow Cameroonian known only as Donald, who promised to help her obtain a Canadian visa.
Upon her arrival at Murtala Muhammed Airport in Lagos, she was received by members of the fake "agency" and transported to Mowe, Ogun State. There, she discovered she had been trapped alongside her 23-year-old younger sister, both held against their will in a two-bedroom apartment located in the Pakuro area of Ogun State.
Police Operation and Ongoing Manhunt
Following the victim's report, operatives from the Anti-Kidnapping Unit in Eleweran immediately launched a raid on the identified hideout. The swift police action resulted in the rescue of another victim, Kengne Maeva, who was found unharmed. During the operation, law enforcement officers arrested two suspects: Ndzana Kamga Isidore and Tingue Stephen.
Investigations uncovered that family members of the victims in Cameroon had already paid a substantial ransom of 3,600,000 CFA into the bank account of the primary suspect, Donald, who remains at large. Police authorities have intensified efforts to apprehend the fleeing mastermind of the criminal operation.
Commissioner's Directive and Related Drug Bust
In response to this development, Ogun State Commissioner of Police, Lanre Ogunlowo, has ordered continuous monitoring of similar criminal activities across the state. The Commissioner specifically instructed tactical commanders to engage with community leaders and Community Development Association (CDA) chairmen, particularly in remote areas, urging them to immediately report suspicious foreign nationals renting apartments.
Commissioner Ogunlowo reaffirmed the police command's unwavering commitment to safeguarding lives and property, emphasizing that criminal elements would find no safe haven within Ogun State.
In a related development highlighting Nigeria's broader fight against international organized crime, five members of international organized criminal groups have been sentenced to a combined 21 years' imprisonment by the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA). The convicts were arrested in connection with the seizure of 68.9 kilogrammes of cocaine and tramadol at the Murtala Muhammed International Airport (MMIA) in Ikeja, Lagos.
