‎Fake Kidnap Plot Busted in Ogun as Police Arrest Eight Foreign Nationals ‎ ‎

‎The Ogun State Police Command has uncovered a transnational criminal syndicate accused of staging a fake kidnapping to extort ransom from relatives living abroad, leading to the arrest of eight foreign nationals in the Agbado area of the state.
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‎The suspects were apprehended during an intelligence-led operation carried out by detectives attached to the Ifo Divisional Police Headquarters under the leadership of the Divisional Police Officer, CSP Olabisi Kamorudeen.
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‎Those arrested include Zakaria Zawadogo, 34, from Burkina Faso; Cheik El-Mehdi, 23, from Mauritania; Suren Neta, 25, from Côte d’Ivoire; Koffi Breno, 36; Gondo Treso, 32; Kunuji Ezekiel, 27, from the Republic of Benin; Kougasi John; and Hemue Blinsi, 30, both from Côte d’Ivoire.
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‎According to Ojajuni, the operation followed a report received on June 6, 2026, from an informant who revealed that El-Mehdi had contacted his family in May, claiming he had been kidnapped in Nigeria and demanding ransom for his release. Investigators said Zawadogo later reinforced the demand by threatening that the purported victim would be killed if payment was not made.
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‎Acting swiftly on the information, detectives launched an intelligence-driven investigation that traced the suspects to a hideout in Adiyan Town, Agbado. Zawadogo was first arrested and subsequently led officers to the location where the remaining suspects were apprehended.
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‎Preliminary investigations revealed that the alleged kidnapping was entirely staged as part of a coordinated scheme to defraud the victim’s family. Police said Suren Neta allegedly lured El-Mehdi into Nigeria, while Zawadogo coordinated ransom demands and issued threats to pressure the family into making payments.
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‎Investigators further discovered that El-Mehdi, who was presented as the victim, actively participated in planning and executing the fake abduction.
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‎The police disclosed that the principal suspects Zawadogo, El-Mehdi and Neta have confessed to their roles in the conspiracy. Authorities are now expanding investigations to determine the full scope of the syndicate’s activities and possible links to other transnational criminal networks.
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‎The case has been transferred to the State Criminal Investigation Department (SCID) for further investigation.
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‎Commending the detectives involved in the operation, Ogun State Commissioner of Police, CP Bode Ojajuni, praised their professionalism and intelligence-led approach, which he said exposed and dismantled the criminal enterprise.
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‎Ojajuni noted that the case underscores the growing sophistication of transnational crime and reaffirmed the command’s commitment to proactive policing, intelligence gathering and collaboration with relevant agencies to combat organized criminal activities.
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‎He further assured residents that Ogun State would remain hostile to criminal elements and pledged continued efforts to safeguard lives and property.
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