The Lagos State Police Command has dismantled a suspected fake kidnapping syndicate, arresting five individuals over a staged abduction allegedly carried out to extort millions of naira from an unsuspecting mother.
Police investigations revealed that the suspects allegedly orchestrated a fake kidnapping and recorded a distress video showing a teenager pleading for help. The video, which later circulated on social media, was intended to create fear and pressure the victim’s family into paying ransom.
Further findings showed that the supposed victim, a 15-year-old schoolboy, was not kidnapped but was an active participant in the scheme alongside four accomplices. The group allegedly targeted the boy’s mother after learning she had recently received a substantial sum of money.
The suspects reportedly demanded millions of naira as ransom, and about N1.7 million was paid before police traced the transaction through a Point-of-Sale terminal, leading operatives of the Anti-Kidnapping Tactical Squad to the suspects.
The Lagos State Police Command confirmed that the incident was an extortion plot and not a genuine kidnapping. All five suspects are currently in custody as investigations continue ahead of their prosecution.
The police condemned the act, describing it as a dangerous criminal scheme capable of causing psychological trauma and public panic. The Command warned that anyone involved in staging or aiding fake crimes would be made to face the full weight of the law.
Members of the public were also urged to remain vigilant, verify information before sharing distressing content online, and promptly report suspicious activities to security agencies.
