The Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC), Lagos State Command, has rescued 125 victims and arrested 18 suspects during a series of intelligence-led operations targeting school vandals, operators of a fake university, Ponzi scheme promoters, human traffickers and other cross-border criminal syndicates in Badagry.
The operations, conducted between July 14 and July 20, 2026, took place in Imeke, Itoga and Ibereko communities of Badagry following actionable intelligence gathered through community engagements with stakeholders in the area.
According to the NSCDC, the rescued victims comprise 107 Nigerians and 18 foreign nationals.
One of the major operations took place on July 20, when NSCDC operatives raided a fake university in Imeke Village, Olorunda Local Council Development Area. The institution, whose name was withheld, was allegedly operating without accreditation while offering illegal admissions and unapproved courses, including nursing.
Six male suspects, aged between 24 and 31, were arrested in connection with the illegal institution.
Investigators also discovered that 107 unsuspecting students admitted into the institution had allegedly been lured into participating in a Ponzi scheme.
In a related operation on July 19, operatives arrested a Cameroonian national suspected of operating a Ponzi scheme and facilitating illegal entry into Nigeria.
Another suspect was arrested on July 18 at Alafia Community along Itoga Road, Badagry, over alleged involvement in human trafficking and facilitating illegal migration.
The arrest led to the rescue of 10 Cameroonian nationals who, according to the NSCDC, had been exploited and held under inhumane conditions for several months by the trafficking syndicate.
Earlier, on July 14, NSCDC operatives arrested seven suspects for allegedly vandalising public school infrastructure in Ibereko, Badagry.
The suspects were accused of damaging school desks, electrical cables and office facilities. Five of the suspects are minors aged between 12 and 16 years.
The command said investigations into the school vandalism case had been concluded and the suspects had been prosecuted.
The NSCDC also arrested three additional foreign nationals, including a citizen of the Niger Republic, over alleged involvement in Ponzi scheme operations, illegal migration and activities said to undermine existing government laws and policies in the Itoga and Imeke areas.
Lagos State Commandant of the NSCDC, Adedotun Keshinro, directed that all suspects be charged to court upon the conclusion of investigations.
He also warned members of the public, particularly students, to be cautious of fraudulent admission offers that could expose them to scams and other criminal activities.
Keshinro further stressed that attacks on educational infrastructure would not be tolerated, reaffirming the command’s commitment to protecting public assets and combating organised crime across Lagos State. #Securitynewsalert.com
