Police in Lagos State have successfully rescued around 50 foreigners, including children, from various African countries who were being held in a duplex on Omola Road in the Edemola area of Epe, Lagos. The individuals, predominantly from Cameroon and Gabon, were discovered to have fallen victim to a group of fraudsters posing as job recruiters.
According to investigations conducted at the Okeoyibo Police Division where the rescued individuals were brought, it was revealed that they had been lured to Nigeria under false pretenses of employment opportunities. The victims had paid undisclosed sums to the scammers, with some even selling their assets such as houses to finance their journey.
Upon arrival, they were confined to the duplex with strict instructions not to leave until they secured the promised jobs. Shockingly, some had been trapped in the building for up to six months.
Lagos State Police Public Relations Officer, SP Benjamin Hudenyin, disclosed that the mastermind behind the scam had fled to Cameroon, leaving 34 individuals stranded. He clarified that they were not kidnapped but deceived into believing false promises of employment in Nigeria.
“The main suspect orchestrated their arrival under the guise of job opportunities, only to abandon them after collecting their money. They were all brought to the police station for further assistance,” Hudenyin explained.