26 foreigners arrested in Lagos over false kidnapping claim

The Police Command in Lagos State has detained 26 foreign nationals after an investigation into a kidnapping claim that was later proven false.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reported that the detainees included 19 Chadians and seven Cameroonians.

A 22‑year‑old Cameroonian woman had approached police claiming she had been kidnapped after traveling to Nigeria to meet a 39‑year‑old Chadian man she had been dating online.

Investigations revealed that the claim was fabricated, allegedly made after the woman discovered the man was married.

Lagos State Commissioner of Police Mr Fatai Tijani ordered the case to be transferred from Area N Command, Ijede, Ikorodu, to the State Criminal Investigation Department (SCID) in Yaba for further inquiry.

A police source told NAN on Friday that the report, filed on June 16, triggered an immediate rescue operation.

Initial communication challenges complicated the case because the woman could not speak English fluently, leading officers to treat the complaint as a genuine kidnapping.

“The woman travelled from Cameroon to meet her lover whom she had been communicating with online but became disappointed after discovering that he was married. She subsequently sought a way to return home without informing him and reported that she had been kidnapped,” the source said.

The source added that police operatives traced the location where the woman claimed she was being held and found several other foreign nationals living in an apartment.

The operation resulted in the arrest of 26 foreigners, aged between 19 and 50 years, including four women.

According to the source, the individuals said they were involved in a networking business linked to a company called Ignite.

“The foreigners could not provide valid travel documents, and some are suspected to have entered the country through irregular routes. They are currently undergoing profiling and immigration‑related checks to determine their legal status and whether any laws have been violated,” the source said.

The investigation is being handled by the Diplomatic and Foreigners Desk of the SCID under the supervision of Deputy Commissioner of Police Mr Dayo Akinbisehin.

The source said investigations were ongoing and that appropriate action would be taken based on the outcome.

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