The Ogun State Police Command has arrested 23 foreign nationals during a raid on a residential building in Ota, where the suspects were allegedly involved in a Ponzi scheme, visa fraud and other immigration-related offences.
The operation, carried out by operatives of the Atan-Ota Division on Tuesday, August 4, followed intelligence received by the command about suspected fraudulent activities at the location.
The suspects were arrested at about 11am at a gated residential building within an estate off Iyana Iyesi, Onipanu-Ota.
The command’s spokesperson, DSP Oluseyi Babaseyi, who confirmed the development on Monday, said the police moved in after receiving credible information concerning activities allegedly taking place at the premises.
He said the operatives secured the building before taking the 23 foreign nationals into custody for questioning and further investigation.
Babaseyi stated that one Malian international passport bearing the name Diakite Alfousseini was also recovered during the operation.
Following preliminary investigations, 21 of the suspects were handed over to the Nigeria Immigration Service for further investigation into their immigration status and other related matters.
However, two of the suspects remained in police custody in connection with allegations of Obtaining by False Pretence and other related offences.
The police spokesperson said their prosecution would follow after the conclusion of investigations.
He added that investigators were working to unravel the full scope of the alleged fraudulent operation and determine whether other individuals were involved.
“Investigation is ongoing to establish the full circumstances surrounding the alleged fraudulent activities and identify any other persons connected with the scheme,” Babaseyi said.
In a separate operation, the command also arrested a suspected armed robber following an alleged attempt to rob a commercial motorcyclist at gunpoint in the Itele area of Ogun State.
The suspect, identified as Babatunde Olasunkanmi, was arrested by operatives of the Itele Division after the command received a distress call from a motorcyclist who alleged that two passengers attempted to rob him shortly after he picked them up at Three Crown Bus Stop.
According to the police, the incident occurred at about 12:48am on August 3 along the Orji Block Area, Itele.
Babaseyi said police operatives responded immediately to the distress call and arrested Olasunkanmi, who allegedly brandished a locally fabricated cut-to-size double-barrel pistol at the motorcyclist.
His alleged accomplice, however, escaped with the victim’s red Bajaj motorcycle and remained at large as of Monday.
The police said one locally fabricated cut-to-size double-barrel pistol, criminal charms, a Tecno Android phone and a UBA Automated Teller Machine card were recovered from the arrested suspect.
The command said efforts were ongoing to track down the fleeing accomplice.
The suspect and the recovered exhibits are expected to be transferred to the State Criminal Investigation Department, Eleweran, Abeokuta, for discreet investigation.
The latest operations, according to the command, form part of ongoing efforts to disrupt organised criminal activities and protect residents across the state.
