The Ogun State Police Command arrested 23 foreign nationals in Ota, Ogun State, on Tuesday, 4 August 2026, following a raid on a residential property allegedly linked to a Ponzi scheme, visa scam and other immigration-related offences.

The suspects were arrested at about 11am by operatives attached to the Atan-Ota Division after the police received intelligence about suspected fraudulent activities at the location.

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The command’s spokesperson, DSP Oluseyi Babaseyi, disclosed the arrests in a statement issued in Abeokuta on Monday, 10 August.

Babaseyi said police personnel mobilised to the property after receiving what the command described as credible intelligence.

“The police personnel promptly mobilised, secured the premises and arrested the suspects for further investigation,” he said.

According to the police, the 23 suspects were initially detained in connection with alleged Ponzi activities, visa fraud and other immigration-related offences.

Following preliminary investigations, 21 of the suspects were handed over to the Nigeria Immigration Service on Wednesday, 5 August, for further immigration-related inquiries and appropriate action.

Two other suspects remained with the police because of allegations relating to obtaining by false pretence and other offences.

Babaseyi said the two suspects would face prosecution subject to the conclusion of the investigation.

The police have not disclosed the identities or nationalities of the 23 suspects, nor have details been released about the alleged Ponzi operation, the scale of the suspected fraud or the number of people who may have been affected.

The Ogun visa scam investigation remains ongoing as authorities work to establish the full circumstances surrounding the alleged activities.

Police are also seeking to determine whether other individuals were involved in the suspected scheme.

The arrests form part of wider efforts by law enforcement agencies to tackle fraudulent activities involving immigration processes and financial schemes.

The police said further developments would depend on the outcome of the ongoing investigation and inquiries by the relevant authorities.

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The suspects remain allegations at this stage, and the investigation is expected to establish the specific roles of those arrested and determine whether charges will be filed against them.