The Nigeria Police Force has successfully rescued 25 nationals of Côte d’Ivoire and arrested eight suspects following the uncovering of a cross-border kidnapping ring operating in Ogun State.
According to a statement issued on Friday, May 9, 2025, by the Force Public Relations Officer, ACP Muyiwa Adejobi, the operation was initiated after a formal complaint was lodged on April 23 by Kaussi Amenan Marianman with the National Central Bureau (NCB) in Abidjan. She reported that her son, Ladji Yoa Pierre, had been deceitfully enticed to Nigeria under the pretext of securing travel documents to Belgium.
The suspects, identified as Simon Oliver and Michael Odunga, reportedly lured Pierre into Nigeria and held him hostage while demanding a ransom of 2.5 million CFA francs—equivalent to approximately ₦6.6 million.
Following a request from NCB Abidjan, the Commissioner of Police for INTERPOL Annexe in Lagos, CP Bode Ojajuni, promptly dispatched a specialised team of investigators to Ogun State to track down the criminals and recover the victims.
The first raid, carried out on May 5 at Osehi Hotel in Ado-Odo Ota, led to the rescue of two victims and the arrest of two suspects.
A follow-up operation at Ejegun Itele in the same area resulted in the liberation of 23 additional captives—including Pierre—and the apprehension of six more individuals linked to the syndicate.
After the rescue, Ladji Yoa Pierre was reunited with his mother, who had travelled from Abidjan to Nigeria.
The remaining 24 rescued Ivorians were handed over to officials of the Nigerian Immigration Service at Zone ‘A’ Headquarters in Ikeja for further assistance.
Meanwhile, the eight arrested suspects remain in police custody as investigations continue, with charges expected to follow.
In a letter dated May 6, 2025, NCB Abidjan expressed gratitude to Nigerian authorities and the INTERPOL Unit for their swift and effective response.
The agency also voiced hope for deeper collaboration to combat cross-border criminal activities.
Inspector-General of Police, IGP Kayode Egbetokun, praised the operatives for their professionalism, reaffirming the force’s commitment to rooting out criminal networks that exploit vulnerable individuals, whether foreign or local.
He stressed that the Nigerian Police will not relent in making the country a hostile environment for criminals.