Lagos Police Bust Alleged Human Trafficking Ring, Arrest 10 Cameroonians Over Fake Visa Scam
By The The The People’s Voice Nigeria News
The Lagos State Police Command has arrested 10 Cameroonian nationals over their alleged involvement in a human trafficking and visa fraud syndicate accused of defrauding unsuspecting victims of millions of naira.
The suspects, comprising five males and five females, allegedly lured fellow Cameroonians to Nigeria with promises of securing visas, work permits, and residency documents for destinations such as Mauritius, Canada, the United Kingdom, and the United States.
Victims were reportedly made to pay substantial sums of money for the purported travel arrangements, which never materialised.
Investigations further revealed that several of the suspects were unable to provide valid passports or visas, raising questions about their mode of entry into Nigeria.
A police source disclosed that the group operated under the guise of a networking business. However, preliminary findings suggest that the syndicate’s primary activity was the recruitment and exploitation of vulnerable individuals seeking opportunities abroad.
According to the source, the suspects allegedly used social media platforms to deceive prospective victims by staging photographs and videos in luxurious environments, including airports and tourist locations, to create the false impression that members had successfully relocated overseas.
The source further revealed that victims were allegedly coached on how to portray themselves as successful migrants in order to attract and recruit additional victims into the scheme.
Considering the cross-border nature of the alleged fraud and human trafficking operation, the Commissioner of Police in Lagos State, Mr. Fatai Tijani, directed that the case be transferred from the Egbeda Tactical Unit to the State Criminal Investigation Department (SCID), Panti, Yaba, for further investigation under the supervision of the Deputy Commissioner of Police in charge of the SCID, Mr. Dayo Akinbisehin.
One of the victims said she was persuaded by a friend who claimed to be living and working in Mauritius. Lured by the promise of better employment opportunities and higher earnings, she paid 800,000 CFA francs equivalent to about N2 million to facilitate her travel documents and relocation.
According to the victim, she was informed that Mauritius had no embassy in Cameroon and that she would need to travel to Nigeria to process her visa and flight ticket. Upon arriving in Lagos, she was taken to a hotel and later to what she was told was an embassy office.
However, she soon discovered that it was merely an ordinary office where she was asked to sign documents she did not fully understand.
The victim alleged that she was subsequently taken to a residence in the Epe area of Lagos, where she was informed that the real business was a networking scheme.
She claimed that her phone and travel documents were confiscated, while she and other victims were taken to airports and tourist locations to take photographs and videos falsely portraying them as individuals who had successfully relocated abroad. The materials were allegedly uploaded on social media platforms to lure more victims into the scheme.
She further alleged that when she demanded a refund and requested to return home, she was informed that her money was non-refundable and that she would have to recruit another person before she could recover her funds.
According to the victim, her cousin was later persuaded to pay another 800,000 CFA francs after being led to believe that she had successfully relocated overseas.
Another victim narrated a similar experience, stating that she paid approximately 1.5 million CFA francs—equivalent to about N3.5 million—for travel documents, including what she was told would be a Mauritius passport, work permit, and residence permit.
She alleged that she was informed that she did not require a Cameroonian passport and could travel to Nigeria using only her national identity card.
Upon arriving in Lagos, the victim said she discovered that instead of processing travel documents, the suspects introduced her to a networking business and trained participants on strategies for recruiting more people into the scheme.
She further alleged that members were closely monitored while communicating with their families and were coached on what to say in order to create the impression that they had successfully relocated abroad.
Police sources confirmed that investigations are ongoing to determine the full extent of the alleged operation, identify additional victims, and establish whether the syndicate has links to other transnational trafficking and fraud networks operating within and outside Nigeria.
The Lagos State Police Command assured members of the public that all suspects found culpable would be prosecuted in accordance with the law upon the conclusion of investigations.
