LAGOS POLICE RESCUE 27 FOREIGN NATIONALS LURED WITH FALSE JOB PROMISES

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By Aishat Momoh. O.

The Lagos State Police Command has rescued 27 foreign nationals who were deceived into coming to Nigeria with fake job offers.

The victims, consisting of 18 men and nine women from Ghana and Benin Republic, were found held captive in the Isheri Oshun area of Lagos.

Lagos State Police spokesperson, Benjamin Hundeyin, revealed that a distress call from one of the victims led officers from the Conflict Response Unit to the scene. The rescue operation uncovered that the victims were likely meant to be transported elsewhere, sparking concerns over international trafficking. Investigations are ongoing to identify and dismantle the trafficking network.

The Command also successfully rescued six kidnapped victims and arrested multiple suspects, including two Pakistani nationals and two Nigerians.

Two Pakistani men, Umarangol (19) and Aftab Hamad (28), were arrested for allegedly kidnapping a fellow Pakistani whom they had lured to Lagos with the promise of a chef job. The victim was held hostage in a hotel on Awolowo Road, Ikeja, as the kidnappers demanded a ₦50 million ransom.

Swift police intervention led to the victim’s rescue and the arrest of two of the seven suspects. The case has been handed over to the State Criminal Investigation Department (SCID), and the Pakistani embassy has been notified.

Three individuals inspecting land near the new airport area in Lekki were abducted by five armed men on March 7, 2025, at around 5:50 p.m. However, swift police action forced the kidnappers to abandon their victims and flee. The victims were safely rescued within 24 hours and reunited with their families. A manhunt is underway to apprehend the fleeing suspects.

In another shocking turn, a female delivery agent fell victim to a kidnapping and extortion scheme on March 9, 2025. The victim was lured to an address under the pretense of delivering a product but was forcibly dragged inside by a man and a woman, later identified as Emmanuel and Mazioma Okafor.

The suspects allegedly stripped the victim naked, took explicit photographs, and demanded ₦2 million to prevent the images from being leaked.

The Lagos State Police Command continues to intensify efforts against crime and ensure the safety of residents and visitors in the state.