Lagos Police Rescue 27 Foreigners from Alleged Kidnap, Arrest Couple for Online Vendor Abduction
Operatives of the Lagos State Police Command have successfully rescued 27 foreigners who were allegedly kidnapped and confined in an apartment in the Isheri Oshun area of the state.
The command’s spokesperson, Benjamin Hundeyin, disclosed this during a press briefing on Monday, revealing that the rescue operation was initiated following a distress call received by the Complaint Response Unit from one of the victims.
According to Hundeyin, the victim reported that she and several others were being held against their will and were not allowed to leave the apartment. Upon receiving the report, the Divisional Police Officer in charge of the area was promptly contacted, leading to the swift intervention of the police.
“Somebody reached out to the Complaint Response Unit of the Lagos Police Command and complained that she had been kidnapped in an apartment and not allowed to leave. The CRU contacted the Divisional Police Officer covering the area, and upon getting to the apartment and breaking into it, a total number of 27 foreigners were found,” Hundeyin stated.
The rescued individuals comprised 18 males and nine females, with nationalities spanning Ghana and the Republic of Benin.
Preliminary investigations revealed that the victims had been lured into Nigeria under the false pretense of securing jobs. The police are currently investigating whether Lagos was their intended final destination or if they were being trafficked to another country.
“They are now safe and in our custody, while investigations continue to determine the full extent of the situation,” Hundeyin assured.
Couple Arrested for Kidnapping Online Vendor
In a related development, the Lagos State Police Command arrested a couple for allegedly kidnapping an online vendor who had gone to deliver a product in the Iyana Ishashi area of the state.
The incident was reported on Sunday by the victim, who recounted that she had been abducted upon attempting to make a delivery to a supposed customer.
“The victim received a request for a product and proceeded to the customer’s house in Iyana Ishashi. Upon arrival, the door was opened, and she was forcibly dragged inside by a man and a woman. The suspects were later identified as Emmanuel and Mazioma Okafor,” Hundeyin explained.
According to the police spokesperson, the suspects allegedly stripped the victim naked, assaulted her, and took explicit photographs. They then demanded a ransom of N2 million, threatening to leak the images if she failed to comply.
“She managed to pay N300,000 that day, which allowed her to regain her freedom. However, she was warned that if she did not pay the balance, her pictures would be released. The victim subsequently reported the incident to the police, leading to an immediate investigation,” Hundeyin said.
The couple was swiftly apprehended by the police, and an investigation is ongoing to ensure justice is served.
The Lagos State Police Command has reiterated its commitment to safeguarding residents and urged members of the public to be vigilant and report any suspicious activities to the authorities.
