Ten Cameroonian nationals have been arrested over an alleged human trafficking and visa fraud syndicate accused of defrauding unsuspecting victims of millions of naira in Lagos.

It was gathered that the suspects, comprising five males and five females, allegedly lured fellow Cameroonians to Nigeria with promises of securing visas, work permits and residency documents for destinations such as Mauritius, Canada, the United Kingdom and the United States.

Victims were reportedly made to pay huge sums of money for the purported travel arrangements, which never materialised.

It was further gathered that several of the suspects lacked valid passports and visas, raising questions about how they entered Nigeria.

A police source said that the group operated under the guise of a networking business, but findings suggest that their real “product” was recruiting and exploiting people.

He said that the syndicate who were arrested by Lagos State Police Command used social media to deceive prospective victims by staging photographs and videos in luxurious environments, including airports, to create the false impression that members had successfully relocated abroad.

According to the source, victims were coached on what to tell their families and friends in order to recruit more people into the scheme.

Considering the nature of the case incloving cross- border fraud syndicates, The Commissioner of Police in Lagos State, Fatai Tijani, directed that the case to be transferred from the Egbeda Tactical Unit to the State Criminal Investigation Department (SCID) Panti, Yaba for further investigation under the supervision of the Deputy Commissioner of Police, Mr Dayo Akinbisehin.

One of the victims said she was persuaded by a friend who claimed to be living and working in Mauritius. Lured by the promise of better pay and employment opportunities, she paid 800,000 CFA francs (about N2 million) to facilitate her travel documents and relocation.

According to her, she was told that Mauritius had no embassy in Cameroon and that she needed to travel to Nigeria to process her visa and flight ticket. Upon arriving in Lagos, she was taken to a hotel and later to what she was told was an embassy office.

However, she discovered that it was an ordinary office where she was asked to sign documents she did not fully understand.

The victim alleged that she was subsequently taken to a residence in the Epe area of Lagos, where she was informed that the real business was a networking scheme.

She said her phone and travel documents were confiscated, while she and others were taken to airports and tourist locations to take photographs and videos that falsely portrayed them as living abroad. The materials were allegedly uploaded on social media to lure more victims.

She further alleged that when she demanded a refund and requested to return home, she was told that her money was non-refundable and that she had to recruit another person before she could recover her funds.

The victim said her cousin was later convinced to pay another 800,000 CFA after being led to believe she had successfully relocated overseas.

Another victim narrated a similar experience, saying she paid about 1.5 million CFA francs, equivalent to about N3.5 million, for travel documents, including what she was told would be a Mauritius passport, work permit and residence permit.

She was allegedly informed that she did not need a Cameroonian passport and could travel to Nigeria using only her national identity card.

Upon arriving in Lagos, the victim said she discovered that instead of processing travel documents, the suspects introduced her to a networking business and trained participants on strategies for recruiting more people.

She alleged that members were monitored while communicating with their families and coached on what to say to create the impression that they had relocated abroad. (Guardian)

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