Eight Foreign Nationals Arrested as Ogun Police Uncover International Fake Kidnap Racket
The Ogun State Police Command has uncovered a transnational criminal syndicate allegedly involved in staging fake kidnapping incidents to extort ransom payments from families living abroad, leading to the arrest of eight foreign nationals.
Global Mirror News gathered that the suspects were arrested following an intelligence-led operation that exposed what police described as a well-coordinated ransom fraud scheme operating from Ogun State.
The suspects were identified as Zakaria Zawadogo, 34, from Burkina Faso; Cheik El-Mehdi, 23, from Mauritania; Suren Neta, 25; Koffi Breno, 36; Gondo Treso, 32; Kougasi John; and Hemue Blinsi, 30, all from Côte d’Ivoire, as well as Kunuji Ezekiel, 27, from the Republic of Benin.
According to the Ogun State Police Command, the breakthrough came after a concerned informant reported on June 6, 2026, that Cheik El-Mehdi had contacted his family abroad in May, claiming he had been kidnapped in Nigeria and demanding a ransom for his release.
Global Mirror News learnt that the alleged victim’s family was further pressured after another suspect, Zakaria Zawadogo, reportedly contacted them and threatened that El-Mehdi would be killed if the ransom was not paid.
Upon receiving the information, detectives attached to the Ifo Division immediately launched an intelligence-driven investigation. The operation quickly uncovered the suspects’ hideout and prevented what authorities believe could have resulted in a successful international fraud.
Technical intelligence reportedly traced the syndicate to Adiyan Town in the Agbado area of Ogun State. Acting on the findings, police operatives stormed the location and arrested Zakaria Zawadogo, who subsequently led investigators to the group’s hideout where the remaining suspects were apprehended.
Confirming the development, the Command’s spokesperson, DSP Babaseyi Oluseyi, said all suspects were taken into custody while the premises were secured and searched in line with due process.
Preliminary investigations revealed that the operation was a carefully planned criminal enterprise involving the deliberate staging of a kidnapping to deceive and extort money from relatives overseas.
Police investigations further indicated that Suren Neta allegedly lured Cheik El-Mehdi into Nigeria, while Zakaria Zawadogo coordinated the ransom demands and issued threats intended to force payment from the victim’s family.
In a shocking twist, investigators discovered that the purported victim, Cheik El-Mehdi, was allegedly an active participant in the scheme and worked alongside other members of the syndicate to orchestrate the fake abduction.
Global Mirror News reports that the principal suspects, including Zakaria Zawadogo, Cheik El-Mehdi and Suren Neta, have reportedly confessed to their roles in the conspiracy, while detectives continue investigations to uncover the full extent of the group’s activities and possible links to other transnational criminal networks.
The case has since been transferred to the State Criminal Investigation Department (SCID) for further investigation and possible prosecution.
The Ogun State Police Command reaffirmed its commitment to combating organized crime and protecting residents from criminal elements involved in fraud, extortion and other cross-border offences.
