Police Uncover Lagos House Where Hundreds Are Held Captive
Police detectives from the Ejigbo Division of the Lagos State Command have uncovered some houses, where a suspected dubious company known as Qnet, held hundreds of innocent Nigerians in captivity after obtaining millions of Naira under the guise of securing a foreign Dollars paying job abroad.
investigation revealed that the houses in question were located at 38 Adewale Adenuga Street and 12 Aya-oye Street, Ejigbo, Lagos, where the company dumped the victims after they sold their properties and gave the money to the syndicate while waiting endlessly for the foreign jobs.
The company was said to have obtained from the victims huge sums of money ranging from N1.8m, N600,000, N400,000 etc. and were promised that when they secure the job they will be paid between $1000 USD monthly, at the same time given accommodations, free visas and resident permits among others.
The victims came all the way from Benue, Kogi, Delta, Edo, Akwa Ibom, Cross River, Ekiti, Osun States and were held in the various houses in Ejigbo area.
Trouble started after some of the victims, who had stayed in the lounges for several months, revolted and contacted the Police at Ejigbo Division, who moved into action.
One of the leaders of the syndicate, Abraham Olamide, has been arrested following a complaint by the victims, who had waited endlessly for the company to give them jobs as they promised after selling their properties and handling the money to the company.
Some of the complainants included Comfort Abah, who paid N1.8m with the promises of getting visa, accommodation alongside a job that she will be receiving salary in Dollars.
However, the victim, Comfort Abah, had waited for several months without the company securing her the job as was promised.
Other victims included, Isaac Daniel, Godwin Galadima, Mercy Ngana, Mathias Oche, Amen Cornelius, John Godwin, Umukoro Monday, Olokesusi Toyin and hundreds of others.
One of the leaders of the syndicate, Abraham Olaide, has been charged before the Magistrate Court for conspiracy and obtaining under false pretence under the Criminal Laws of Lagos State.
However, he pleaded not guilty when he was arraigned.
The prosecutor, Supol Benedict Aigbokhan, then asked the Court to give a date for hearing since he pleaded not guilty to enable the Police to prove that he actually committed the alleged offence.
The Presiding Magistrate, Mrs. K.A. Ariyo, granted him bail in the sum of N500,000 with two sureties in like sum, who must show evidence of means of livelihood and tax payment.
He was remanded in custody at the Correctional Centre at Kirikiri town, Lagos, pending when he will perfect his bail conditions while the matter was adjourned till 28th August, 2023, for mention.
Meanwhile, the Police were said to have started manhunt for the leaders of the syndicate, who reportedly registered the company with CAC in Abuja.
As at the time of this report, many victims were still trapped in various locations in Ejigbo, where the syndicate lodged them while extorting money from them and their relations.
