Operatives of the Nigeria Police Force have rescued 25 Ivorian nationals, including one Ladji Yoa Pierre, who was the subject of a formal request from the National Central Bureau (NCB) Abidjan.
Force Public Relations Officer, ACP Olumuyiwa Adejobi in a statement issued Friday said this marked the third major achievement against transnational criminal activities within the span of one week.
He noted: “The operation was triggered by a report filed on April 23rd, 2025, by Mrs. Kaussi Amenan Marianman at NCB Abidjan alleging that her son, Ladji Yoa Pierre, had been lured to Nigeria under false pretenses by some individuals who were later identified as Simon Oliver and Michael Odunga, promised to facilitate his travel documents to Belgium.
“Once in Nigeria, Ladji Yoa Pierre was held captive, with the abductors demanding a ransom of 2 million five hundred CFA. (equivalent to N6,625).
Olumuyiwa added that upon receiving the request from NCB Abidjan, the Commissioner of Police INTERPOL, Annex, Lagos, CP Bode Ojajuni immediately deployed a team of trained investigators to rescue the victim and apprehend his abductors.
He explained that on May 5th, 2025, the team successfully stormed the hideout of the abductors rescuing two victims and apprehended two suspects at Osehi Hotel, located at Ado-Odo Ota, Ogun State.
The force Spokesperson stressed that subsequent operation conducted at Ejegun Itele, Ado-odo-Ota resulted in the rescue of 23 additional victims, including the said Pierre, and the arrest of six more suspects.
Olumuyiwa added that following the successful operation, Pierre was handed over to his biological mother, Mrs. Kaussi Amena, who came all the way from Abidjan.
He noted that the remaining 24 rescued victims have been handed over to the Assistant Comptroller General, Nigerian Immigration Services, Zone ‘A’ Headquarters, Ikeja-Lagos, for further action, while the 8 apprehended suspects are in Police custody undergoing investigation for possible prosecution.