The Lagos State Police Command has launched a major crackdown on a disturbing new crime trend: staged kidnappings orchestrated by individuals to extort money from their own families and friends. Authorities are actively monitoring social media to identify and stop these fabricated abductions, which have caused widespread panic and led to significant financial losses.
Police Tactical Response and Social Media Monitoring
On Sunday, January 18, the Police Public Relations Officer, SP Abimbola Adebisi, addressed the media. She revealed that the Commissioner of Police, Olohundare Jimoh, has deployed Tactical Squads and anti-crime units across the state to ensure a rapid response to any reported incidents. Furthermore, Area Commanders and Divisional Police Officers have been directed to work closely with community leaders and residents to improve the flow of information.
"The command is also closely monitoring reports on social media and other platforms to promptly verify and address any incidents that may cause public anxiety," Adebisi stated. This proactive digital surveillance aims to separate real emergencies from hoaxes that drain critical security resources.
Detailed Cases of Orchestrated Fraud
The police spokesperson provided detailed accounts of several recently uncovered scams. In one elaborate case, a 26-year-old housewife in Lagos staged her own kidnapping with the help of an accomplice in Osun State. Her husband, who lives in South Africa, was contacted by the supposed kidnappers who demanded a N10 million ransom, later negotiated down to three million naira.
Desperate to save his wife, the husband paid N2.5 million. When she was not released, the inconsistency raised red flags. A special police squad investigated and uncovered the scam. The woman confessed, admitting that even the iPhone she claimed was stolen during the fake abduction had been sold beforehand. The accomplice had supplied a SIM card used for the ransom negotiations on WhatsApp.
In a separate incident, police arrested five suspects aged between 15 and 20 for orchestrating another viral fake kidnapping. Investigations showed that a 15-year-old boy, with friends, staged his own abduction in a room at Ago Palace to extort money from his mother. A ransom of N1.7 million was paid before detectives traced the transaction through a POS terminal, leading to the arrests. The case had initially been reported as a missing person on 26 November 2025.
Additionally, a young couple was arrested for allegedly faking the wife's kidnap in an attempt to get N10 million from relatives. The plot unraveled at a school in Cappa, Lagos, after security personnel grew suspicious of their behavior. The 19-year-old wife later described it as a "prank kidnapping," staged to help her husband cope with frustrations over his failed attempts to return to the United States.
Public Vigilance and Police Warning
SP Abimbola Adebisi urged the public to exercise heightened vigilance, emphasizing that security is a shared responsibility. She advised residents to always verify distress calls and avoid making hasty financial transfers without confirmation. The police also warned strongly against false reporting and criminal deception, which divert essential security assets from genuine life-threatening situations.
She provided the following safety recommendations for families:
- Establish internal verification codes or safe words with loved ones.
- Maintain steady communication channels.
- Promptly report any suspicious activities to the nearest police station or through the command’s emergency numbers: 07061019374, 08065154338, 08063299264, and 08039344870.
Adebisi assured Lagos residents that the police command will continue to intensify efforts to protect lives and property. She sent a stern warning to criminal elements to desist from such illegal acts, as the law will catch up with them.
