Lagos Police Arrests 26 Foreign Nationals From Chad, Cameroon Over ‘Kidnap Report’
The Lagos State Police Command has detained 26 foreign nationals from Chad and Cameroon after uncovering what investigators described as a fabricated kidnapping allegation that prompted a major security operation.
The suspects, comprising 19 Chadian nationals and seven Cameroonians, were apprehended following an investigation into a kidnap complaint lodged by a young Cameroonian woman.
According to police findings, the 22-year-old woman had travelled to Nigeria to meet a 39-year-old Chadian man with whom she had developed a romantic relationship through online interactions. The situation, however, took an unexpected turn after she allegedly discovered that the man was already married.
Security sources disclosed that the woman subsequently reported to the police that she had been abducted, a claim that initially triggered an emergency rescue response by law enforcement agencies.
The Commissioner of Police in Lagos State, Fatai Tijani, later ordered the transfer of the case from the Area N Command in Ijede, Ikorodu, to the State Criminal Investigation Department (SCID), Yaba, for a more detailed probe.
A source familiar with the investigation said the complaint was received on June 16 and was treated as a serious kidnapping incident, especially because communication difficulties hindered early efforts to verify the woman's account.
“The lady came into Nigeria from Cameroon to meet a man she had been communicating with online. When she found out he was married, she became unhappy and began looking for a way to return to her country without attracting attention,” the source explained.
“She later reported to the police that she had been kidnapped, prompting an immediate response from security personnel.”
Acting on the information provided, operatives traced the location where the alleged victim claimed she was being held. During the operation, officers discovered a residence occupied by numerous foreign nationals.
The raid resulted in the arrest of 26 individuals, including four women, whose ages range between 19 and 50 years.
Preliminary interrogations revealed that the occupants claimed to be participants in a networking enterprise linked to a company identified as Ignite.
However, investigators reportedly encountered difficulties verifying the immigration status of several of those arrested. According to the source, a number of the suspects were unable to produce valid travel documents, while others are believed to have entered Nigeria through unauthorised routes.
“They are currently being profiled and subjected to immigration screening to establish their identities, determine their legal status in the country, and ascertain whether any immigration regulations have been breached,” the source added.
The matter is currently being handled by the Diplomatic and Foreigners Desk of the SCID under the supervision of the Deputy Commissioner of Police in charge of the department, Dayo Akinbisehin.
Police authorities said investigations are still ongoing and assured that appropriate legal and administrative actions would be taken once the inquiry is concluded.