The Lagos State Police Command has made a startling arrest, detaining a 26-year-old housewife and a 30-year-old male accomplice for allegedly orchestrating her own kidnapping to defraud her husband of N2.5 million.
The Reported Abduction and Ransom Demand
According to police spokesperson SP Abimbola Adebisi, the case unfolded on 24 November. The woman's husband, who resides in South Africa, contacted the police via an emergency line to report that his wife had been taken by armed men. The supposed kidnappers initially demanded a ransom of N10 million, later negotiating it down to N3 million. The distressed husband eventually paid N2.5 million, but his wife was not freed as promised.
The Command's Special Squad immediately launched an investigation, deploying resources to track the alleged kidnappers. The woman was subsequently released and reunited with her family. During her initial debriefing, she gave a detailed account, claiming six armed men in a silver Toyota Venza abducted her. She stated they took her to a hideout and seized her iPhone 12 Pro Max. She further alleged the ransom was paid into her bank account before she handed it over to the captors.
Investigation Uncovers the Deception
However, detectives noted inconsistencies in her story. Their probe led them to Ede in Osun State, where on 3 December, they apprehended her 30-year-old accomplice. A critical piece of evidence was recovered: the SIM card used to register the WhatsApp account that facilitated the ransom negotiations.
"During interrogation, the accomplice confessed that the suspect requested the use of his SIM card to create the WhatsApp account used for the ransom negotiations," stated SP Adebisi. "He admitted providing the one-time password (OTP) sent to his line, which enabled her to operate the account."
Confronted with this evidence, the woman broke down and admitted to faking the entire kidnapping plot to extort money from her husband. The investigation also led to the recovery of her supposedly stolen iPhone 12 Pro Max. Police traced the phone to a 34-year-old man who confessed to buying it from the suspect for N380,000. He revealed she had warned him not to insert any SIM card into the device.
Police Condemn Action and Issue Warning
The Lagos State Commissioner of Police, Mr. Olohundare Jimoh, strongly condemned the criminal deception. He warned that such false reports divert critical security resources from genuine emergencies. He reiterated the command's dedication to protecting lives and property and urged residents to remain law-abiding and report real suspicious activities promptly.
SP Adebisi confirmed that investigations are ongoing and both suspects will be charged to court upon its conclusion. The police also reminded the public of the available emergency contact numbers: 07061019374, 08065154338, 08063299264, and 08039344870.
