The Lagos State Police Command has intensified surveillance of social media platforms to identify and dismantle a growing wave of staged kidnapping schemes causing panic across the state.
According to the command’s spokesperson, SP Abimbola Adebisi, numerous viral videos depicting kidnapping incidents that triggered widespread fear and ransom payments have been exposed as elaborate frauds orchestrated by the alleged victims themselves.
Speaking to the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on Sunday, Adebisi revealed that Commissioner of Police Olohundare Jimoh has deployed Tactical Squads and anti-crime units to enhance emergency response capabilities. Area Commanders and Divisional Police Officers have been instructed to collaborate with community leaders and residents to strengthen intelligence gathering.
“The command is actively tracking reports across social media and other platforms to quickly verify and respond to incidents that may create public alarm,” Adebidi stated.
Recent Cases Expose Elaborate Deception
In recent weeks, police have uncovered multiple fake abduction schemes designed to extort money from unsuspecting relatives.
One prominent case involved a 26-year-old woman whose staged kidnapping prompted her husband in South Africa to pay N2.5 million after negotiating down from an initial N10 million demand. When she remained unreleased despite payment, police launched an investigation that revealed she had orchestrated the entire scheme with an accomplice in Osun State who provided a SIM card for ransom negotiations via WhatsApp. The woman later admitted to the scam and confessed that she had already sold the iPhone she claimed was stolen during the supposed abduction.
In another incident, five teenagers aged 15 to 20 were arrested for staging a viral fake kidnapping. A 15-year-old boy, aided by four friends, faked his abduction from a friend’s residence in the Ago Palace area to extort money from his mother. After N1.7 million was paid, detectives tracked the transaction through a point-of-sale terminal, leading to the suspects’ arrest. The case, initially reported as a missing person incident on November 26, 2025, had caused significant public distress before the truth emerged.
Police also apprehended a young married couple for fabricating the wife’s kidnapping to defraud relatives and friends of N10 million. Investigations indicated the scheme stemmed from financial difficulties and the husband’s unsuccessful attempts to relocate to the United States. The plot unraveled at a school in Cappa, Lagos, when alert security personnel noticed suspicious behavior and contacted authorities. The 19-year-old wife admitted to planning what she termed a “prank kidnapping” to help her husband cope with frustration over his travel plans.
Public Urged to Exercise Caution
Adebisi called on Lagos residents to remain alert and report suspicious activities immediately, emphasizing that security requires collective responsibility.
She urged the public to verify distress calls before responding and warned against false reporting, criminal deception, and actions that waste critical security resources.
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The spokesperson advised families to establish private verification codes and maintain consistent communication with loved ones to prevent falling victim to such schemes.
“Avoid making hasty money transfers without proper confirmation and immediately report any suspicious activities to the nearest police station or through the command’s emergency numbers: 07061019374, 08065154338, 08063299264, and 08039344870,” Adebisi cautioned.
The police command has vowed to continue intensifying efforts to protect lives and property throughout Lagos State while urging citizens to provide credible, timely information to support crime prevention initiatives.
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