Lagos State Police Command has uncovered a carefully staged kidnapping plot after arresting five suspects, including a 15-year-old schoolboy, over a fake abduction that led to the extortion of N1.7 million from the boy’s mother.
The Command’s spokesperson, SP Abimbola Adebisi, confirmed the arrests in a statement issued on Friday in Lagos, following widespread panic triggered by a viral video showing the schoolboy pleading for his life in what appeared to be a kidnappers’ hideout.
According to Adebisi, operatives of the Anti-Kidnapping Tactical Squad, acting on intelligence-led investigations, apprehended the suspects — aged between 15 and 20 years — on Thursday at about 1:00 p.m. in the Ago Palace area of the state.
“They were apprehended following discreet and intelligence-led investigations into the incident, which had earlier sparked widespread public fear on social media,” she said.
She explained that the case was initially reported as a missing person incident at the Ago Palace Police Division on November 26, before detectives uncovered a shocking twist.
“Further investigations established that the alleged kidnapping was deliberately orchestrated by the 15-year-old suspected victim, in collaboration with four of his friends,” Adebisi disclosed.
Investigations revealed that the group used the room of one of their associates, a 19-year old, as the location where the fake kidnapping was staged.
The police spokesperson said the suspects hatched the plot to extort money from the boy’s mother, who had recently received N4 million from a contribution.
“The suspects recorded and circulated a distress video showing the supposed victim pleading for help, thereby creating fear and panic within his family,” she stated.
Adebisi said the plan succeeded temporarily, as the boy’s mother eventually paid a ransom of N1.7 million, which was transferred into the bank account of one of the suspects and later shared among the group.
She added that police operatives were able to trace the Point-of-Sale (POS) terminal used for the transaction, a breakthrough that led to the arrest of all those involved.
According to her, investigations are ongoing and the suspects will be charged before a court of competent jurisdiction.
The Commissioner of Police, Mr Olohundare Jimoh, warned criminal elements to stay away from crime, assuring residents that the Command would continue to strengthen measures to protect lives and property across Lagos State.
Adebisi reassured the public that the incident was not a genuine kidnapping case, urging residents to remain calm and go about their lawful activities.
She also encouraged members of the public to report suspicious activities through the Command’s emergency lines: 0706 101 9374, 0806 515 4338, 0806 329 9264, and 0803 934 4870.
