Lagos Police Bust Illegal Foreign Network After Fake Kidnap Drama

June 19 () — Operatives of the Nigeria Police Force in Lagos State have arrested 26 foreign nationals after investigations into an alleged kidnapping case uncovered what authorities described as a false report that ultimately exposed a network of undocumented foreigners residing illegally in the state.

The dramatic operation followed a complaint by a 22-year-old Cameroonian woman who reported that she had been kidnapped shortly after arriving in Nigeria to meet a man she had been romantically involved with online.

However, police investigations later revealed that the abduction claim was fabricated after the woman reportedly discovered that the 39-year-old Chadian man she had travelled from Cameroon to meet was already married.

The false alarm, which was reported on June 16 at Area N Command, Ijede, Ikorodu, initially triggered an emergency rescue operation by security operatives who believed they were responding to a genuine kidnapping incident.

Sources familiar with the matter disclosed on Friday that communication barriers complicated the early stages of the investigation, as the woman could not communicate fluently in English, prompting officers to immediately treat the matter as a serious criminal case.

According to the source, the complainant had travelled from Cameroon after months of online communication with the Chadian national, but allegedly became angry and disappointed after learning of his marital status.

“The woman travelled from Cameroon to meet her lover, whom she had been communicating with online but became disappointed after discovering that he was married. She subsequently sought a way to return home without informing him and reported that she had been kidnapped”, the source said.

Following the report, the Lagos State Commissioner of Police, Fatai Tijani, ordered the immediate transfer of the case from Area N Command to the State Criminal Investigation Department (SCID), Yaba, for deeper investigation.

Acting on intelligence gathered during the probe, operatives traced the location where the woman claimed she was being held captive. But instead of finding evidence of abduction, officers discovered an apartment occupied by several foreign nationals living together under suspicious circumstances.

The operation led to the arrest of 26 foreigners, including 19 nationals of Chad and seven Cameroonians, aged between 19 and 50 years. Four women were among those apprehended during the raid.

Preliminary investigations showed that the group claimed to be engaged in a networking business linked to a company identified as Ignite.

Security sources, however, disclosed that many of those arrested were unable to provide valid travel documents, while investigators suspect some may have entered Nigeria through illegal routes.

“The foreigners could not provide valid travel documents, while some are suspected to have entered the country through irregular routes”, the source disclosed.

Police authorities said the suspects are currently undergoing profiling and immigration verification procedures to determine their legal status and establish whether immigration or other criminal laws have been breached.

The investigation is being coordinated by the Diplomatic and Foreigners Desk of the SCID under the supervision of Deputy Commissioner of Police, Dayo Akinbisehin.

Authorities said investigations remain ongoing, adding that those found culpable would face appropriate legal action.