The Lagos State Police Command has arrested five individuals, including four teenagers aged between 15 and 19, for allegedly fabricating a kidnapping and circulating a distress video to extort money from the family of a schoolboy.
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The arrests were made on December 17 and 18 at the Volkswagen Roundabout and Ago Palace areas by the command’s Anti-Kidnapping Tactical Squad.
According to the Lagos State Police Public Relations Officer, Abimbola Adebisi, the case was first reported on November 26 at the Ago Palace Police Division as a missing-person complaint, after a video showing a schoolboy pleading for help went viral on social media, sparking public concern.
Investigations revealed that the supposed kidnapping was staged by the 15-year-old boy and four of his friends. The group allegedly set up a fake kidnappers’ den in the room of one of the suspects, 19-year-old Umeh Victor, where they recorded the distress video.
The suspects include the 15-year-old boy, a 17-year-old friend, Umeh Victor (19), David Odudu (19), and Anyabike Kingsley (20).
Police investigations indicated that the scheme aimed to extort money from the victim’s mother, who had recently received approximately N4 million in contributions. The group reportedly demanded a ransom of N1.7 million, which was paid into one of the suspects’ accounts before the boy’s “release.” The funds were then allegedly shared among them.
Authorities traced the transaction through the Point-of-Sale terminal used to receive the ransom, which led to the arrest of all five suspects. They remain in police custody and are expected to face prosecution once investigations conclude.
Lagos State Commissioner of Police, Olohundare Jimoh, warned criminals to desist from illegal activities, assuring residents that the police would continue to safeguard lives and property. He urged the public to remain calm, avoid spreading unverified content on social media, and report suspicious activities through official police channels.
The command noted that similar false kidnapping reports have circulated in recent years, including a March 2024 case where four individuals were arrested for staging a fake abduction and demanding a N5 million ransom. The police stressed that misinformation can incite panic and disrupt public order.
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