Police Uncover Cross-border Fraud Network

Ogun State Police Command has uncovered an alleged international fraud syndicate operating under the guise of a networking business, leading to the arrest of several suspects accused of luring foreign nationals to Nigeria with false promises of wealth and staging a fake kidnapping to extort money from relatives.

The suspects were apprehended by operatives of the command under the leadership of the Commissioner of Police, Olubode Ojajuni, in the Agbado area of Ifo local government area.

The Police said the syndicate operated a scheme known as “Ignite”, which allegedly targeted victims from across Africa, particularly Francophone countries, with promises of financial prosperity through a purported marketing network.

According to the command, one of the victims, a Mauritanian national, Cheikh Mhedy, was lured to Nigeria by a female suspect, Sole Nata, and housed in an apartment in Agbado before a false kidnapping claim was allegedly orchestrated to extort 6.5 million CFA francs from his father.

One of the alleged leaders of the group, 34-year-old Zadariah Sawadogo, a Burkinabe who grew up in Côte d’Ivoire, claimed the operation was linked to a Malaysian national whom he described as the owner of the business.

Speaking with journalists, Sawadogo said, “I came to Nigeria in 2023. I was born in Burkina Faso but I grew up in Ivory Coast. I came to Nigeria in search of menial jobs. I was introduced into the business by my friend, Sebastien.

“When I came to Nigeria, he told me about Ignite Networking. He told me that I would make a lot of money but I had not made any money before I was arrested. I only got $90. What the business entails is to introduce or refer people to the business and we will make money. I was also told that we would be given products which we will be selling.”

He further claimed that the group’s operations were coordinated through his associate in Burkina Faso.

“When Sebastien introduced me to Ignite Networking, he told me that I would get products from our boss, who is based in Malaysia, and that I would also get more money from the number of people who join through me,” he said.

Sawadogo disclosed that he invested proceeds from the sale of family property into the venture.

“Before I left Ivory Coast, I already bought land which I wanted to build my house on. I told my father to sell the land and send the money to me. He sold the land for one million six hundred thousand CFA francs and sent the money to me in Nigeria. I rented the apartment where we were arrested for N500,000 and I used the remaining money to order for Ignite products,” he stated.