By our Reporter
The Ogun State Police Command has uncovered a transnational criminal syndicate involved in staging fake kidnappings to extort ransom from unsuspecting families abroad, leading to the arrest of eight foreign nationals in Ogun State.
The suspects, 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) from Côte d’Ivoire; as well as Kunuji Ezekiel (27) from the Republic of Benin, were apprehended during an intelligence-led operation in Adiyan Town, Agbado area of the state.
According to the Police Public Relations Officer, DSP Oluseyi Babaseyi, detectives attached to the Ifo Division, led by the Divisional Police Officer, CSP Olabisi Kamorudeen, uncovered the syndicate following a report 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.
Investigations revealed that another suspect, Zakaria Zawadogo, reinforced the ransom demand by threatening that the purported victim would be killed if payment was not made.
Acting swiftly on the report received on June 6, 2026, detectives launched an intelligence-driven investigation which traced the suspects to a hideout in Adiyan Town. Zakaria Zawadogo was initially arrested and subsequently led investigators to the syndicate’s base, where the remaining suspects were apprehended.
Preliminary findings showed that the kidnapping was entirely staged as part of a coordinated plot to defraud the victim’s family. Police investigations further established that Suren Neta allegedly lured Cheik El-Mehdi into Nigeria, while Zakaria coordinated the ransom demands and threats. The supposed victim was also found to have actively participated in the scheme.
The principal suspects — Zakaria Zawadogo, Cheik El-Mehdi and Suren Neta — have reportedly confessed to their roles in the conspiracy.
The case has been transferred to the State Criminal Investigation Department (SCID) for further discreet investigation aimed at uncovering the full scope of the syndicate’s activities and possible links to other transnational criminal networks.
Commending the detectives for their professionalism and swift response, the Commissioner of Police, Ogun State Command, Bode Ojajuni, said the operation highlights the growing sophistication of transnational criminal activities and underscores the Command’s commitment to intelligence-led policing and the fight against organized crime.
Ojajuni reassured residents that Ogun State remains hostile to criminal elements and pledged continued collaboration with relevant agencies to strengthen public safety and security.
The Police Command also urged members of the public to remain vigilant and promptly report suspicious activities, particularly incidents involving alleged kidnappings and ransom demands.
