The Lagos State Police Command has arrested a 26-year-old housewife and her 30-year-old accomplice for allegedly staging her own kidnapping and extorting N2.5 million from her husband.
The command’s spokesperson, SP Abimbola Adebisi, confirmed the arrest in a statement issued on Saturday, following a distress call received on November 24 through one of the command’s emergency lines.
According to Adebisi, the husband reported that his wife had been kidnapped by armed men who initially demanded N10 million ransom, later reduced to N3 million. “After he paid N2.5 million, the woman was still not released,” she said, adding that police deployed human and technical assets before the supposed victim was eventually released and reunited with her family.
Adebisi said investigations uncovered inconsistencies in the woman’s account, leading to the arrest of her accomplice in Osun State and recovery of a SIM card used for ransom negotiations. “Following the confession, the suspect admitted to faking her own kidnapping,” she said, adding that investigations are ongoing and both suspects will be charged to court, while residents were urged to remain law-abiding and report suspicious activities.