By Christopher Oji
Lagos State Police Command has rescued 27 foreigners who were to be trafficked out of the country by a syndicate.
The victims were rescued by the police after a tip-off from the Rapid Response Squad(RRS) of the command at Isheri Oshun area of the state.
Lagos State Commissioner of Police, Jimoh Moshood who briefed journalists yesterday at the Command headquarters, Ikeja, said that immediately the information was received, police operatives moved into the area and rescued the victims,who were locked up in an apartment in the area.
Lagos State Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO) CSP Benjamin Hundeyin, who represented the CP ,said among the rescued victims, were 18 males and 19 females.Some of them were from Ghana and Benin Republic.
“During preliminary investigations,it was gathered that the victims were lured into the country under the guise of getting them jobs.
“Investigation is still ongoing to know if they were moving forward to another country. They have been rescued and doing well in our protective custody. Parents are warned to know where their children are going to.
“In a similar vein, on March 9, 2025. A victim alleged that she was kidnapped and extorted by individuals posing as customers.
“According to the victim, on March 5, at about 8am, while she was in her shop in Alaba International Market, Ojo, one Emmanuel Bernard contacted her via WhatsApp, requesting that she should deliver two phones pouches to Iyana Isashi area of the state.
“The victim said upon arrival at the said address ,she was forcefully dragged into a room by the said Emmanuel and another female accomplice, Mazioma Okafor and the door was locked behind”.
Hundeyin said the suspects physically assaulted her, took her nude photograph, and demanded a ransom of N2 million.
“The victim was later released after her family members paid N300,000 ransom. A team of police detectives was mobilized to the scene,leading to the swift arrest of the two suspects, who are currently in our custody.”