The Ogun State Police Command says its operatives have arrested eight foreign nationals operating a self-kidnapping scheme to extort money from their families abroad in Adiyan town, in the Agbado area of the state.
PUNCH Metro learnt on Monday from the spokesperson for the command, Oluseyi Babaseyi, that the arrest followed an intelligence-led operation into a reported kidnapping case.
Babaseyi stated that preliminary investigations revealed that the acclaimed kidnapping was a staged abduction aimed at extorting money from unsuspecting family members.
He identified the suspects as 34-year-old Zakaria Zawadogo from Burkina Faso, 23-year-old Cheik El-Mehdi from Mauritania, 25-year-old Suren Neta from the Ivory Coast, and 36-year-old Koffi Breno from the Ivory Coast.
Others included 32-year-old Gondo Treso from the Ivory Coast, 27-year-old Kunuji Ezekiel from the Republic of Benin, Kougasi John from the Ivory Coast, and 30-year-old Hemue Blinsi from the Côte d’Ivoire.
He continued, “The suspects were arrested during an intelligence-led operation in Adiyan Town, Agbado Area of Ogun State, following credible intelligence and sustained surveillance into a reported kidnapping incident that was later uncovered to be a staged abduction.”
“The breakthrough followed a report received on June 6, 2026, from a concerned informant, who alerted the police that a 23-year-old Mauritanian national, Cheik El-Mehdi, had contacted his family abroad in May 2026, claiming he had been kidnapped in Nigeria and demanding ransom for his release.
“Shortly after, another suspect, Zakaria Zawadogo, reinforced the demand with threats that the victim would be killed if the ransom was not paid.”
Babaseyi noted that following the reports, operatives began an investigation, which led them to uncover the location of the crime, mobilised to the scene and arrested the leader of the syndicate, who led detectives to their hideout.
Babaseyi stated that upon interrogating the suspects, it was discovered that the operation was a coordinated criminal enterprise involving staged kidnapping tactics.
“It was further established that Suren Neta lured Cheik El-Mehdi into Nigeria, while Zakaria Zawadogo coordinated the ransom demands and issued threats to compel payment. The purported victim was also found to have actively participated in the orchestration of the fake abduction.
“The principal suspects, Zakaria Zawadogo, Cheik El-Mehdi, and Suren Neta, have all confessed to their involvement in the conspiracy, while further investigation is ongoing to determine the full extent of the syndicate’s operations and possible links to other transnational criminal networks.
“The case has since been transferred to the State Criminal Investigation Department for discreet and further investigation,” Babaseyi added.
He noted that the Commissioner of Police, Bode Ojajuni, commended the professionalism and swift response of the detectives under CSP Olabisi Kamorudeen, whose intelligence-led action exposed and dismantled the criminal scheme.
“The CP notes that the case highlights the increasing sophistication of transnational criminal activities and reaffirms the Command’s commitment to proactive policing, intelligence gathering, and sustained operations against organised crime.
“He reassures members of the public that Ogun State remains a hostile environment for criminal elements and that the Command will continue to strengthen internal and cross-border collaboration to ensure public safety.
“The command urges members of the public to remain vigilant and promptly report suspicious activities, particularly cases involving staged kidnappings or ransom demands,” the statement concluded.
PUNCH Metro reported on June 3 that the command clarified that the recent arrest of 38 Ivorians in Atan-Ota was unrelated to banditry or terrorism.
Babaseyi had clarified that the arrest carried out in Kajola-Ilese, Atan-Ota, which had been linked by some social media users to banditry, involved the arrest of 38 foreign nationals from Côte d’Ivoire.
According to him, the suspects, comprising 19 males and 19 females aged between 25 and 35 years, were reportedly found in an apartment and could not provide any means of identification.
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