Police thwart N50m kidnapping plot targeting Chinese national, arrest suspects

The Ogun State Police Command has disrupted an alleged kidnapping scheme targeting a Chinese expatriate and arrested two suspects involved in a planned N50 million ransom plot.

DSP Oluseyi Babaseyi, the command’s spokesperson, announced the development in a statement issued on Thursday in Abeokuta. He said the suspects were taken into custody on Tuesday after the police received actionable intelligence.

Babaseyi explained that the intelligence indicated a kidnapping plan along the Ijebu‑Ode/Odogbolu Expressway. Officers from the Obalende Division, led by the Divisional Police Officer, were dispatched to the area and intercepted the suspects before the plot could be carried out.

Preliminary findings show the suspects had conspired to abduct a Chinese national and demanded a ransom of N50 million for his release. “Preliminary investigation shows that the suspects conspired to abduct a Chinese national and planned to demand a ransom of N50 million. One of the suspects exploited his position as an interpreter and driver within the victim’s company to facilitate the plot,” Babaseyi said.

The spokesman added that another suspect remains at large. Efforts are underway to locate the fleeing accomplice and determine the full extent of the criminal operation.

He said the case has been transferred to the State Criminal Investigation Department (SCID) for further inquiry.

Responding to the incident, CP Bode Ojajuni, the Commissioner of Police in Ogun State, praised the officers for their professionalism, vigilance and swift action. He noted that the intervention averted a potentially major kidnapping incident.

Ojajuni emphasized the value of credible intelligence and public cooperation in enhancing security and preventing crime. He reassured residents and the business community of the command’s commitment to intelligence‑driven policing and proactive security measures, and urged the public to stay alert and report suspicious activity promptly to law enforcement agencies.