Ogun State Police Command has uncovered a criminal network of Cameroonian nationals accused of kidnapping unsuspecting victims under the pretext of assisting with visa processing.
Gatekeepers News reports that two suspects were arrested by the anti-kidnapping unit during a raid in Mowe, along the Lagos–Ibadan Expressway, while the gang leader remains at large.
Police spokesperson Omolola Odutola said the operation was prompted by a distress call from a Cameroonian woman, Kengne Maeva, who was deceived by a man identified as Donald.
Maeva had been invited to Nigeria on September 29, 2025, with the promise of securing a Canadian visa. Investigations later revealed that she and her younger sister were held captive in a two-bedroom apartment in Pakuro, Ogun State.
After escaping on November 3, Maeva alerted the police, leading to the arrest of Nozana Kamga Isidore and Tingue Stephen. The police discovered that the victims’ relatives in Cameroon had paid 3.6 million CFA francs into the ringleader’s account as ransom.
Shortly after she arrived at Murtala Mohammed Airport, Lagos, she was received by the supposed ‘agency’ which provided transportation from Lagos to Mowe, Ogun State, where she and her younger sister, aged 23 years, were held hostage.
On 3rd November 2025, the complainant escaped from captivity and alerted the police, disclosing that more victims who fell for the same ploy were being held in a two-bedroom flat in the Pakuro area of Ogun State.
Commissioner of Police Lanre Ogunlowo has ordered increased surveillance across the state and directed tactical commanders to work closely with community leaders, especially in remote areas, to promptly report suspicious foreign nationals renting properties.
The command reiterated its commitment to safeguarding residents, warning that criminal networks will not find refuge in Ogun State.
