Nab 10 Cameroonians over visa fraud, human trafficking in Lagos

Six suspects have been arrested by the Ogun State Police Command following an intelligence-led coordinated operation by the Violent Crime Response Unit (VCRU), Special Weapons and Tactics (SWAT) and Ibafo Division across Abeokuta, Wasimi and Ibafo.
  
The suspects are identified as Afisu Awesu, Bala Aminu, Moruf Sodiq (alias “Okiki”), Mumuni Amodu (alias “Stone”), Abayomi John (alias “Ibafo”), and Adeboye Ojesina.
   
They were arrested after the police disrupted multiple criminal networks involved in illegal possession of firearms, armed intimidation, theft, conspiracy and receipt of stolen property. Similarly, operatives of the VCRU have arrested three suspects who specialise in generator theft, operating in Abeokuta and environs.
   
Spokesperson for the command, DSP Oluseyi Babaseyi, confirmed in a statement yesterday that the arrest of Sodiq, who received the stolen generator, resulted in the others’ arrest.
   
According to him, “the suspect promptly led operatives to Amodu, ‘M’, alias ‘Stone’, identified as the receiver of stolen property. A swift search of the premises resulted in the recovery of four Elepaq generators, one Sumec Fireman generator, and nine Android mobile phones suspected to have been recently stolen.
  
“In a further breakthrough, operatives arrested Abayomi John, ‘M’, alias ‘Ibafo’, a motorcyclist who allegedly provided rapid logistics support conveying suspects to targeted locations during operations.
  
He added that the suspects are currently in custody while a discreet investigation continues to identify and arrest other members of the syndicate.
   
The SWAT operatives have arrested 58-year-old Adeboye Ojesina for allegedly illegally possessing firearms and using them to threaten residents within Wasimi and adjoining communities.
   
Babaseyi said a prompt search resulted in the recovery of a locally fabricated pistol, one pump-action rifle, two live cartridges and one expended cartridge. He explained that the suspect initially denied ownership, but later claimed to have recovered the pistol within the area and discharged a round to test its functionality.
  
The suspect further claimed that the pump-action rifle was handed over to him by an unidentified individual who is currently being trailed by operatives.
   
In a similar development, the spokesperson said police operatives attached to Ibafo Division arrested Awesu while attempting to steal a forklift engine component with an accomplice who escaped. According to him, the police had launched an immediate investigation following a theft report at a site in Igbeti Sote Village via Ibafo, which led to his arrest.
   
Further investigation showed that the suspects had earlier stolen forklift tyres from the same location and disposed of the same to Aminu of Kara, Ibafo. Babaseyi said the police promptly acted and arrested Aminu as the alleged receiver of stolen property, while efforts continue to apprehend the fleeing accomplice and dismantle the criminal network.
  
Meanwhile, the Commissioner of Police, Bode Ojajuni, has commended the swiftness and professionalism of the VCRU, SWAT and Ibafo Division in the successful execution of the operations. He further assured residents of continued proactive policing and swift response to security threats.
   
In another development, 10 Camerounians have been arrested over an alleged human trafficking and visa fraud syndicate accused of defrauding unsuspecting victims of millions of naira in Lagos.
   
The suspects, comprising five males and five females, allegedly lured fellow Camerounians to Nigeria with promises of securing visas, work permits and residency documents for destinations such as Mauritius, Canada, the United Kingdom and the United States.
 
Victims reportedly paid huge sums of money for the purported travel arrangements, which never materialised. It was gathered that many of the suspects lacked valid passports and visas, thereby raising questions about how they entered Nigeria.
   
A police source said the group operated under the guise of a networking business, but findings suggest that their real “product” was the recruitment and exploitation of people.
   
The source said arrested members of the syndicate used social media to deceive prospective victims by staging photographs and videos in luxurious environments, including airports, to create the false impression that members had successfully relocated abroad.
   

According to the source, victims were also coached on what to tell their families and friends to help recruit more victims into the scheme.
   
CP Tijani has directed the case transferred from the Egbeda Tactical Unit to the State Criminal Investigation Department (SCID), Panti, Yaba, for further investigation under the supervision of the Deputy Commissioner of Police, Dayo Akinbisehin.
   
Meanwhile, one of the victims said she was persuaded by a friend who claimed to be living and working in Mauritius. Lured by the promise of better pay and employment opportunities, she paid 800,000 CFA francs (about N2 million) to facilitate her travel documents and relocation.
   
Following their failure to fulfil their agreement and refusal to refund her, as well as their insistence that she should recruit another person before she could recover her funds, the victim said her cousin was later convinced to pay another CFA 800,000 after being led to believe that she had successfully relocated overseas.
   
Another victim also narrated a similar experience, saying she paid about CFA 1.5 million, equivalent to N3.5 million, for travel documents, a Mauritius passport, a work permit and a residence permit. According to her, she was told that she did not need a Camerounian passport and could travel to Nigeria using only her national identity card.