The Ogun State Police Command has busted a syndicate of Cameroonian nationals allegedly involved in human trafficking and kidnapping, luring victims to Nigeria under the pretense of securing foreign visas.
According to police reports, the breakthrough came on November 4, 2025, when operatives of the Anti-Kidnapping Unit, Eleweran, received a distress call from a Cameroonian woman who escaped captivity after being deceived into Nigeria on the promise of a Canadian visa.
The victim told police that she and her younger sister, aged 23, were received by members of the syndicate at Murtala Muhammed International Airport, Lagos, on September 29, 2025, before being taken to Mowe, Ogun State, where they were held hostage.
Following her escape on November 3, the victim alerted police to a two-bedroom flat in the Pakuro area of Mowe, where more victims were believed to be detained. Acting swiftly, a tactical team stormed the location, rescuing one victim, identified as Kengne Maeva, and arresting two suspects — Ndzana Kamga Isidore and Tingue Stephen.
The prime suspect, Donald, a Cameroonian national alleged to be the ringleader, remains at large. Preliminary investigations revealed that the victims’ families in Cameroon had already paid a ransom of 3.6 million CFA francs into Donald’s bank account in Cameroon.
In a statement, the Commissioner of Police, Ogun State Command, CP Lanre Ogunlowo, Ph.D, commended the swift action of the Anti-Kidnapping Unit and directed all tactical commanders to increase surveillance and collaborate with community leaders.
“We are intensifying efforts to curb transnational crimes and will not allow Ogun State to become a safe haven for human traffickers or any form of organized crime,” the Commissioner stated.
He also urged Community Development Associations (CDAs) and local stakeholders to promptly report suspicious activities, particularly foreign nationals renting properties in secluded areas, directly to the police.
The Ogun State Police Command reaffirmed its commitment to protecting lives and property, assuring residents that ongoing investigations will lead to the arrest of the fleeing suspect and the dismantling of any related criminal networks.