Police nab 2 Cameroonians over alleged kidnapping

The Ogun State Police Command has apprehended two Cameroonian nationals accused of belonging to a human trafficking network that allegedly lures and kidnaps unsuspecting victims under the guise of helping them secure foreign visas.

Police spokesperson, CSP Omolola Odutola, disclosed this in a statement issued in Abeokuta on Friday.

According to Odutola, the suspects — Ndzana Kamga Isidore and Tingue Stephen — were arrested by operatives of the Anti-Kidnapping Unit in the Mowe area of the state.

She said the arrests followed a distress call from a Cameroonian victim who managed to escape from captivity.

Odutola explained that the victim was tricked into travelling from Cameroon to Nigeria on Sept. 29 by one Donald, also a Cameroonian, who had promised to help her obtain a Canadian visa.

“Upon her arrival at the Murtala Muhammed Airport in Lagos, she and her 23-year-old sister were taken to Mowe area in Ogun where they were held hostage.

“Following credible intelligence, our tactical team stormed the criminal hideout at Pakuro, Mowe, and rescued one victim, Kengne Maeva, unhurt.

“Two suspects were arrested at the scene, while the principal suspect, Donald, is currently at large,” Odutola said.

She revealed that preliminary investigations showed the victims’ relatives had transferred 3.6 million CFA Francs as ransom into the bank account of the fleeing suspect.

Odutola added that Commissioner of Police, CP Lanre Ogunlowo, has directed continued surveillance on such criminal activities and ordered tactical commanders to partner with community leaders and development associations to report suspicious foreign nationals renting apartments.

She reaffirmed the command’s commitment to safeguarding lives and property, saying that the police would ensure criminals “find no hiding place in the state.”