The Ogun State Police Command has arrested 23 foreign nationals over their alleged involvement in a Ponzi scheme, visa scam and other immigration-related offences in the Ota area of the state.
The suspects were arrested during a raid on a residential building by operatives of the Atan-Ota Division of the command.
The police said the operation followed credible intelligence about alleged fraudulent activities taking place at the location.
The command’s spokesperson, DSP Oluseyi Babaseyi, disclosed this in a statement issued on Monday in Abeokuta, the state capital.
According to him, the suspects were arrested on August 4 at about 11am after police operatives acted on information received about the alleged activities.
Babaseyi said the police quickly mobilised to the location, secured the premises and arrested the foreign nationals for questioning and further investigation.
He said the 23 suspects were arrested in connection with an alleged Ponzi scheme, visa scam and other immigration-related offences.
“The raid followed credible intelligence received by the police concerning suspected fraudulent activities at the location,” Babaseyi said.
He added that the suspects were taken into custody as the police began preliminary investigations into their activities.
Following the initial investigation, 21 of the suspects were handed over to the Nigeria Immigration Service on August 5 for further investigation into immigration-related matters and appropriate action.
The remaining two suspects were retained by the police because of allegations of obtaining money by false pretence and other related offences.
Babaseyi said the two suspects would be prosecuted after the conclusion of the investigation.
He explained that the investigation was still ongoing and that the police were working to establish the full circumstances surrounding the alleged fraudulent activities.
The command is also seeking to determine whether other people were involved in the alleged scheme and whether there were additional victims.
Ponzi schemes are fraudulent investment arrangements in which participants are promised high or quick returns, while money from newer participants is often used to pay earlier participants instead of being generated through genuine business activities.
Such schemes can collapse when there are not enough new participants or funds to sustain the payments, leaving many investors with heavy financial losses.
Visa scams, on the other hand, often involve people being deceived with promises of securing travel visas, jobs, residence permits or other immigration benefits.
Fraudsters may demand large sums of money from victims while claiming to have connections with embassies, immigration authorities or travel agencies.
The arrest in Ogun highlights the growing concern over organised fraud and other criminal activities carried out through residential and business premises.
The state, which shares a border with the Republic of Benin and has major industrial and commercial centres, attracts people from different parts of Nigeria and other countries.
Ogun also has a large number of businesses, factories, schools and residential communities, particularly around Ota and other areas close to Lagos.
The Ota area has experienced rapid population growth because of its proximity to Lagos and its industrial activities. The movement of people and businesses through the area makes effective monitoring of criminal activities important to the authorities.
The police and other security agencies have continued to rely on intelligence from members of the public to uncover suspected criminal operations.
In the latest case, the information received by the police enabled operatives to identify the location and conduct the raid.
The involvement of the Nigeria Immigration Service is also expected to help determine the immigration status of the 21 suspects handed over to the agency.
The NIS is responsible for managing migration and enforcing immigration laws in Nigeria. It also investigates cases involving illegal entry, unlawful stay and other immigration-related offences.
The police did not disclose the nationalities of the 23 foreign nationals arrested.
It was also not immediately clear how long the alleged Ponzi and visa operations had been taking place or how many people may have been affected.
The command did not disclose the amount of money allegedly obtained from victims or the specific methods the suspects allegedly used to carry out the scheme.
These details are expected to emerge as investigators continue their work.
The two suspects retained by the police are expected to face prosecution if the investigation establishes sufficient evidence against them.
However, the allegations against all the suspects remain subject to investigation and judicial determination.
The police are also expected to establish whether the suspects acted individually or as part of a wider network.
Babaseyi urged the public to remain alert and report suspicious activities to the police and other relevant authorities.
The command has continued to stress the importance of timely information in preventing fraud and other crimes, particularly those involving organised groups.
The latest operation also serves as a warning to members of the public to be cautious when approached with promises of unusually high financial returns or guaranteed travel and visa arrangements.
People seeking visas and other immigration services are generally advised to use recognised channels and verify claims before making payments.
As investigations continue, the Ogun Police Command said it would work with the relevant agencies to uncover the full extent of the alleged activities and identify anyone else connected with the operation.