By Erewunmi Peace

Lagos, Nigeria – The Lagos State Police Command has uncovered a massive visa fraud operation involving over ₦500 million, leading to the arrest of four suspects connected to the scam.

According to police reports, the suspects allegedly defrauded more than 100 unsuspecting individuals with false promises of securing work visas to Canada and Australia. The arrests were made by detectives from the State Criminal Investigation Department (SCID), Panti, following several complaints from victims.

The suspects, identified as employees of an educational consultancy located in the Ago Palace Way area of Lagos, reportedly collected large sums of money from each victim under the guise of visa processing fees and job placement assistance.

Lagos State Police Public Relations Officer, SP Benjamin Hundeyin, confirmed the arrest in a statement issued on Wednesday, July 17, 2025. He noted that the operation was uncovered after one of the victims formally reported the fraudulent scheme to the police.

“We have apprehended four individuals who lured hundreds of job seekers with fake promises of international employment and collected over ₦500 million from them,” Hundeyin said.

The police have also recovered documents and materials used in carrying out the scam. Investigations are ongoing, and efforts are being made to trace other potential victims and recover the stolen funds.

Authorities urge the public to remain cautious and verify agencies or consultants offering overseas employment opportunities.

“We encourage Nigerians to carry out due diligence before committing money to travel or employment offers that seem too good to be true,” the police spokesperson advised.

The suspects will be charged to court upon the conclusion of investigations.