The Nigerian Police Force has successfully rescued a 48-year-old Pakistani national, Iftikhar Ahmed, who was allegedly abducted by fellow Pakistanis after being deceived into travelling to Lagos with the promise of a job.
According to intelligence sources who spoke to Zagazola Makama, Ahmed was invited to Lagos from Kano by a group of seven Pakistani nationals under the guise of securing a chef position for him.
“The victim arrived in Lagos on February 28 and was welcomed at the airport by the suspects.
“However, on March 1, they visited his lodge, overpowered him, tied him up, and stole $2,000, three ATM cards (UBA, Access, and Unity Banks), a green card, a driver’s license, and his National Identification Number (NIN) slip,” a source revealed.
The kidnappers later contacted Ahmed’s employer in Kano and demanded a ransom of ₦50 million. The employer reportedly paid ₦1 million before law enforcement stepped in.
Acting on intelligence, police operatives from the Ikeja Division, working with other units, raided a location along Awolowo Way, Ikeja, around 7:10 p.m. on March 5, leading to Ahmed’s safe rescue.
Two suspects, Roman Gull, 19, and Aftab Ahmad, 28, were apprehended, while five others managed to escape.
A Toyota Camry with registration number SGD-289-AE (Edo) was also recovered from the suspects, and efforts are underway to track down the fleeing accomplices.
Preliminary investigations indicate that the group had been exploiting Pakistani nationals seeking employment in Nigeria.
“The suspects specifically targeted their fellow countrymen, using fake job offers as bait before abducting them for ransom,” a source disclosed.
Authorities have assured that a discreet investigation is ongoing to apprehend the remaining members of the syndicate and uncover any additional accomplices.