Operatives of the Lagos State Police Command have successfully apprehended two Pakistani nationals, Roman Gull, 28, and Aftab Ahmad, 19, in connection with a kidnapping incident that occurred in the Ikeja area of Lagos. According to the Lagos State Police Command spokesman, CSP Benjamin Hundeyin, the suspects, along with five others still at large, allegedly lured their 48-year-old Pakistani victim from Kano to Lagos under the guise of a fraudulent job offer as a chef.

The suspects reportedly arranged the victim's flight to Lagos and accommodated him in a hotel on February 28, 2025. However, the following day, they allegedly overpowered the victim, tied him up, and demanded a ransom of N50 million from his employer in Kano. The employer initially paid N1 million to stall for time and subsequently alerted the police.

CSP Hundeyin explained that the suspects were apprehended following a distress call received at the Ikeja Division of the Lagos State Police Command on Wednesday, March 5, 2025, regarding the kidnapping of the 48-year-old Pakistani man in Ikeja. Swift action by the anti-crime patrol of the Division led to the rescue of the victim and the arrest of two of the captors, Roman Gull and Aftab Ahmad, both of Pakistani descent, while five other Pakistani individuals managed to escape.

The police also recovered the suspects' operational vehicle, a grey Toyota Camry sedan, along with $2,000 in cash belonging to the victim, three ATM cards, a green card, a driver's license, and a National Identification Number (NIN) slip. Efforts are currently underway to apprehend the remaining suspects and bring them to court upon the conclusion of the investigation.

CSP Hundeyin assured that the rescued victim is in good health and has been reunited with his family. The Commissioner of Police, Lagos State Command, CP Olohundare Jimoh, commended the officers and men of the Ikeja Division for their successful operation and reiterated the Command's commitment to ensuring the safety and security of residents and visitors in Lagos State at all times.

In a related incident, the Nigeria Sanctions Committee (NSC) has identified Simon Ekpa, an extremist group known as Lakurawa, and 15 other individuals and entities as terrorist financiers, following a meeting held on March 6, 2025. The Chairman of the NSC has directed all financial institutions and designated non-financial businesses and professions to immediately identify and report any transactions involving these individuals and entities.