Lagos police arrest four over ₦500m work visa scam targeting over 100 unsuspecting Nigerians.
Suspects posed as consultants, luring victims with fake Canadian and Australian employment offers.
The Lagos State Police Command has busted a four-man syndicate accused of swindling over 100 Nigerians through fraudulent work visa schemes, with total losses estimated at more than ₦500 million.
Commissioner of Police Olohundare Jimoh confirmed the arrests on Monday, August 11, stating that the suspects, aged between 23 and 36, were picked up on July 16 by officers from the Ago-Okota Division before the case was transferred to the State Criminal Investigation Department (SCID).
Police investigations revealed that the suspects were employees of an educational consultancy firm that posed as a legitimate facilitator for Canadian and Australian work visas. Victims were allegedly lured with promises of overseas employment, only to lose large sums of money without receiving any visas or job placements.
“Preliminary investigation revealed that the suspects fraudulently obtained over ₦500 million from more than 100 victims under the false pretense of facilitating Canadian and Australian work visas,” Jimoh said.
The Commissioner added that the suspects remain in custody and will be arraigned once investigations are concluded. Efforts are ongoing to apprehend other members of the syndicate who are still on the run.
