Police rescue Ivorian national, uncover self-kidnap plot in Ogun

The Nigeria Police Force (NPF), through its elite Intelligence Response Team (IRT), has successfully rescued a foreign national in Ogun State, only to uncover that the supposed victim had allegedly orchestrated his own kidnapping.

The operation was launched following a distress request received on behalf of authorities in Abidjan, Côte d’Ivoire, by the INTERPOL National Central Bureau (NCB) Abuja.The victim, identified as Kacou Alleby, a 38-year-old Ivorian national, was reported kidnapped and held hostage on September 12, 2025.

According to a statement issued by the Force Public Relations Officer, CSP Benjamin Hundeyin, the Inspector-General of Police (IGP) Kayode Adeolu Egbetokun, Ph.D., immediately directed IRT operatives to commence a coordinated rescue mission. Intelligence gathering led the police to the suspects’ location in the Matogun area of Ogun State.

In a swift operation, one suspect, Angela Arisa, a 28-year-old Ivorian national, was arrested. She subsequently led the operatives to a hideout at an estate in Olambe, Ogun State, where the purported victim, Kacou Alleby, was rescued unhurt.

Subsequent investigation revealed a complex conspiracy: the supposed victim, Kacou Alleby, and the arrested suspect, Angela Arisa, had allegedly staged the entire kidnap. Their motive was to extort money from Alleby's family back in Côte d’Ivoire.

The duo had recorded fake torture videos and voice notes demanding ransom to place pressure on the family to pay up.

The Nigeria Police Force is currently working to identify and arrest other accomplices who aided in producing the deceptive torture videos.

The NPF strongly condemned the action, with IGP Egbetokun warning that self-kidnap is a serious crime under Nigerian law.