By IGE ADEKUNLE

The Police Command in Ogun says it has arrested eight foreign nationals allegedly involved in staging fake abductions to extort money from the relatives of their victims residing abroad.

The Command’s Spokesperson, DSP Oluseyi Babaseyi, disclosed this in a statement issued to newsmen on Monday in Abeokuta.

Babaseyi explained that detectives from the Ifo Division in Ogun, led by the DPO, CSP Olabisi Kamorudeen, uncovered a transnational criminal syndicate involved in a carefully coordinated fake kidnapping scheme aimed at extorting ransom from unsuspecting families abroad.

He listed the foreign nationals arrested during the operation to include Zakaria Zawadogo (M) 34, Burkina Faso; Cheik El-Mehdi (M) 23, Mauritania; Suren Neta (F) 25, Ivory Coast; Koffi Breno (M) 36, Ivory Coast; Gondo Treso (M) 32, Ivory Coast.

Others suspects are Kunuji Ezekiel (M) 27, Republic of Benin; Kougasi John (M), Ivory Coast; and Hemue Blinsi (M) 30, Côte d’Ivoire.

He said that the suspects were arrested during an intelligence-led operation in Adiyan Town, Agbado area, following credible intelligence and sustained surveillance into a reported kidnapping incident that was later uncovered to be a staged abduction.

According to Babaseyi, the breakthrough came after a concerned informant reported to the police on June 6 that a 23-year-old Mauritanian, Cheik El-Mehdi, had informed his family abroad in May that he had been abducted in Nigeria and requested a ransom for his release.

Shortly after, another suspect, Zakaria Zawadogo, reinforced the demand with threats that the victim would be killed if the ransom was not paid.

“Upon receipt of the complaint, detectives of Ifo Division immediately activated an intelligence-driven investigation.

“This swift response proved decisive in uncovering the location of the suspects and preventing what could have resulted in a successful cross-border financial crime.

“The technical intelligence report revealed that the suspects were operating from a hideout in Adiyan Town, Agbado Area in Ogun.

“Acting on this intelligence, operatives were swiftly mobilised to the location where Zakaria Zawadogo was arrested.” he said.

The spokesperson said the report subsequently led detectives to the syndicate’s hideout, resulting in the arrest of Cheik El-Mehdi, Suren Neta, and five other foreign nationals.

He, however, said that all suspects were taken into custody, while the premises was secured and thoroughly searched in line with due process.

Babaseyi said that preliminary findings revealed that the operation was a coordinated criminal enterprise involving the deliberate staging of a kidnapping scenario to defraud the victim’s family.

It was further established that Suren Neta lured Cheik El-Mehdi into Nigeria, while Zakaria Zawadogo coordinated the ransom demands and issued threats to compel payment.

He added that the purported victim was found to have actively participated in the orchestration of the fake abduction.

Babaseyi said that the principal suspects, Zakaria Zawadogo, Cheik El-Mehdi, and Suren Neta, have all confessed to their involvement in the conspiracy.

He said that further investigation is ongoing to determine the full extent of the syndicate’s operations and possible links to other transnational criminal networks.

According to the statement, the case had since been transferred to the State Criminal Investigation Department (SCID) for discreet and further investigation.

The Commissioner of Police, CP Bode Ojajuni, commended the professionalism, discipline, and swift response of the detectives under CSP Kamorudeen, whose intelligence-led action exposed and dismantled the criminal scheme.

The CP said that the case highlighted the increasing sophistication of transnational criminal activities and reaffirmed the command’s commitment to proactive policing, intelligence gathering, and sustained operations against organised crime.

He assured residents that Ogun state remains unfriendly to criminal activities and that the command would continue to strengthen internal and cross-border collaboration to safeguard lives and property.

The police urged the members of the public to remain vigilant and promptly report suspicious activities, particularly cases involving staged kidnappings or ransom demands.

For emergencies and credible information, residents are advised to contact the command through: Gateway Shield (Toll-Free): 0800 000 9111 Emergency Lines: 0906 283 7609, 0912 014 1706, 0915 102 7369, 0708 497 2994. (NAN)

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