…Ogun police bust cross border fraud ring
Operatives of the Ogun State Police Command have recorded a major breakthrough with the rescue of nine foreign nationals and the arrest of two suspected members of a transnational fraud syndicate operating within the state.
The operation, executed by the Anti Kidnapping Unit, followed credible intelligence that exposed a well coordinated network allegedly involved in luring unsuspecting victims into Nigeria under false travel arrangements.
Police authorities confirmed that the suspects, identified as Stephen Kwame and Abubakar Sulaimon, were apprehended at their hideout in Owode Egba, where victims were reportedly held under deceptive and exploitative conditions.
The breakthrough was made possible through intelligence support from INTERPOL, which prompted a swift and targeted intervention by operatives on April 6, 2026.
During the raid, officers rescued one Maclaud Owusu, a Ghanaian national, alongside eight other victims who were found in similar distress, all held against their will within the premises.
Preliminary findings revealed that the syndicate specialised in deceiving foreign nationals, particularly from Ghana, with false promises of facilitating their travel to Europe, only to detain and exploit them upon arrival.
Investigators disclosed that victims were stripped of their freedom, while their mobile devices were used to contact relatives and associates to extort money under false pretences.
The principal victim was reportedly defrauded of over Thirty One Thousand Ghana Cedis before law enforcement intervention disrupted the scheme and secured his release.
Police said the suspects are currently in custody and assisting ongoing investigations, with efforts intensified to track down other members of the syndicate and dismantle the wider criminal network.
Commending the operation, the Commissioner of Police, Bode Ojajuni, praised the professionalism and swift response of the operatives, reaffirming the command’s resolve to stamp out organised crime while urging the public to verify travel arrangements and support policing efforts with credible information.