The Lagos State Police Command has arrested a middle-aged scrap iron dealer, Adamu Abdullahi, for allegedly faking his own kidnapping in an attempt to extort N1.5 million from his employer.
Police Report Details
According to the state Commissioner of Police, CP Tijani Fatai, a report was filed on May 19 by one Abubakar, stating that his brother, Adamu Abdullahi, had gone missing and could not be located. During the investigation, a video surfaced showing the purported victim being beaten with planks and threatened with death unless a ransom of N1.5 million was paid by his employer.
Inconsistencies in the Video
Upon careful analysis of the video and subsequent investigation, detectives noted inconsistencies. There were no visible signs of physical assault on the alleged victim after he returned home. Under further interrogation, Abdullahi confessed that the kidnapping was staged in collaboration with three accomplices: Adelowo Olalekan Akorede, aged 35; Yusuf Lukman, aged 39; and another accomplice who is currently at large.
Fraudulent Intentions
Investigations revealed that the suspects intended to fraudulently obtain money from the victim's employer, Lawal Abubakar, who regularly entrusted Abdullahi with funds for scrap iron business transactions. Abdullahi also confessed that he had diverted N490,000 previously entrusted to him for business purposes. This amount was recovered by the police.
The police visited the workshop used for recording the fake kidnapping video during the investigation. Efforts are ongoing to arrest the fleeing accomplice.
