The Ogun State Police Command has arrested 23 foreign nationals following a raid on a residential property in the Ota area of the State over allegations of involvement in a Ponzi scheme, visa fraud and other immigration-related offences.
The suspects were apprehended on Tuesday, August 4, 2026, during an operation carried out by operatives of the Atan-Ota Divisional Police Headquarters following intelligence received about alleged fraudulent activities taking place at the location.
The arrest was disclosed on Monday by the Command’s spokesperson, DSP Oluseyi Babaseyi, who said the operation was conducted at a gated residential building located within an estate around Iyana Iyesi, Onipanu-Ota.
According to the police, the information received by investigators prompted officers to mobilise to the area, secure the premises and take the occupants into custody for questioning.
Babaseyi said the 23 foreign nationals were arrested at about 11:00 a.m. after officers acting on credible intelligence raided the property.
He explained that the suspects were taken into custody because of allegations with immigration regulations.
The police spokesperson said the operation was part of the Command’s efforts to respond to intelligence concerning suspected fraudulent activities and determine the identities and roles of those allegedly connected to the operation.
During the raid, police also recovered a Malian international passport bearing the name Diakite Alfousseini.
The recovery of the document, according to the Command, formed part of the items being examined as investigators work to establish the circumstances surrounding the activities at the property.
Following the initial investigation, 21 of the arrested foreigners were handed over to the Nigeria Immigration Service for further investigation into immigration-related matters.
The move, the police explained, was necessary because of the immigration dimension of the allegations involving the suspects.
The Nigeria Immigration Service is responsible for matters including immigration control, the status of foreign nationals in the country and compliance with Nigeria’s immigration laws.
However, two of the suspects remained in police custody.
Babaseyi said the two individuals were being retained by the police for possible prosecution over allegations of Obtaining by False Pretence and other related offences.
He stressed that the suspects’ cases remained subject to the conclusion of investigations and any subsequent legal proceedings.
The police command also said investigations had not been concluded, noting that detectives were working to establish the full circumstances surrounding the alleged fraudulent activities.
Authorities are also seeking to determine whether other individuals were involved in the suspected scheme and whether the arrested persons had additional connections to similar activities.
The Ogun Police Command has continued to rely on intelligence-led operations in different parts of the State as part of efforts to tackle criminal activities and respond to reports received from members of the public.
The latest operation in Ota came alongside another police development involving an alleged attempted robbery in the Itele area of Ogun State.
According to the Command, operatives of the Itele Division arrested a suspected armed robbery suspect after receiving a distress report from a commercial motorcyclist.
The incident reportedly occurred shortly after midnight on August 3, 2026.
The police said the motorcyclist had picked up two passengers at Three Crown Bus Stop before the passengers allegedly attempted to rob him while they were travelling through the Orji Block Area of Itele.
Following the distress call, officers were deployed to the area.
The police said the response resulted in the arrest of a man identified as Babatunde Olasunkanmi, while another alleged participant escaped from the scene.
According to the Command, Olasunkanmi was allegedly accused of threatening the motorcyclist during the incident, while the fleeing suspect allegedly escaped with the victim’s red Bajaj motorcycle.
The police said efforts were ongoing to locate and arrest the alleged accomplice.
The Command further disclosed that items recovered during the operation included a locally fabricated cut-to-size double-barrel firearm, criminal charms, a Tecno Android mobile phone and a UBA ATM card.
The items were taken into police custody as exhibits for further investigation.
The police said the arrested suspect and the recovered exhibits would be transferred to the State Criminal Investigation Department in Eleweran, Abeokuta, for discreet investigation.
The Command said detectives would work to establish the circumstances surrounding the alleged robbery and identify the whereabouts of the suspect who reportedly fled the scene.
The two cases highlight separate investigations currently being handled by the Ogun State Police Command, with one involving alleged financial and immigration-related offences and the other involving an alleged attempted robbery.
In the Ota case, the police have stressed that the 23 foreign nationals were arrested in connection with allegations and that investigations are still ongoing. Twenty-one have been transferred to immigration authorities for further action, while two remain with the police over alleged offences including obtaining by false pretence.
The Command has also indicated that the investigation could widen if evidence establishes the involvement of additional persons.
For now, the authorities have not disclosed the nationalities of all 23 foreigners or provided further details about the alleged Ponzi operation, including the amount of money allegedly involved, the number of potential victims or how long the suspected operation had been running.
Further details are expected as the police and immigration authorities continue their respective investigations.
The Ogun State Police Command urged members of the public to remain vigilant and provide relevant information to law enforcement agencies whenever they encounter suspected criminal or fraudulent activities.
The latest arrests underline the importance of intelligence gathering and cooperation between law enforcement agencies in dealing with suspected financial fraud, immigration violations and other criminal activities across Ogun State.