By Deborah Akpede
Lagos, Dec. 19, 2025 (NAN) – In a startling case that blurs the line between victim and perpetrator, the Lagos State Police Command has dismantled a kidnapping hoax orchestrated by a 15-year-old schoolboy and four of his friends, aged between 15 and 20. The elaborate scheme, designed to extort money from the boy’s own mother, involved a staged abduction, a viral distress video, and a N1.7 million ransom payment.
The Command’s spokesperson, SP Abimbola Adebisi, confirmed the arrests in a statement, revealing that the suspects were apprehended by detectives from the Anti-Kidnapping Tactical Squad on Thursday afternoon in the Ago Palace area.
“The suspects were apprehended following discreet and intelligence-led investigations into an incident that had earlier sparked widespread public fear and panic on social media,” Adebisi stated.
From Missing Person Report to Orchestrated Crime
The plot began on November 26, when the 15-year-old boy was reported as a missing person at the Ago Palace Police Division. This initial report lent credibility to the subsequent kidnapping narrative. However, police investigations soon uncovered a more cynical truth.
“Preliminary investigations revealed that the alleged kidnapping was deliberately orchestrated by the 15-year-old suspected victim, in collaboration with four of his friends,” Adebisi explained. The group used the room of a 19-year-old associate as their fake “kidnappers’ den.”
The Mechanics of the Hoax: Fear as a Weapon
The scheme’s success hinged on exploiting a mother’s worst fears. The suspects recorded a distress video showing the boy bound and pleading for mercy, which was then circulated to his family and later went viral online. This tactic, common in genuine kidnappings, is designed to create immense psychological pressure for rapid payment.
Their target was calculated: the boy’s mother had recently received N4 million from a local contribution (known as an esusu or ajo). Seeing an opportunity, the group conspired to fake the kidnapping to access these funds.
“A ransom of N1.7 million was eventually paid by the suspected victim’s mother and transferred into the account of one of the suspects to secure her son’s release,” said Adebisi. “The money was later shared among the group.”
How the Police Unraveled the Scheme
The breakthrough came from digital and financial forensics. Police operatives traced the Point-of-Sale (POS) terminal used to withdraw the ransom money. This critical piece of evidence led directly to the identity and location of the suspects, demonstrating how financial footprints are often the downfall of such crimes.
This case highlights a growing and troubling trend of “self-kidnapping” or staged abductions, often motivated by quick financial gain or to settle debts. It places immense strain on law enforcement resources, diverting attention from genuine life-threatening cases, and cruelly manipulates the emotions of families.
Legal Repercussions and Public Assurance
SP Adebisi confirmed that investigations are ongoing and the suspects will be charged before a court of competent jurisdiction. Charges could include conspiracy, obtaining money under false pretenses, and public mischief.
The Commissioner of Police, Mr. Olohundare Jimoh, issued a stern warning to criminal elements, while Adebisi sought to reassure a concerned public. “The Commissioner assured residents that the Command would continue to intensify efforts to safeguard lives and property,” she said. She emphasized that “the incident was not a genuine case of kidnapping” and urged the public to remain calm.
The police also reiterated the importance of community vigilance. The public is encouraged to report any suspicious activities through the Command’s emergency numbers: 0706 101 9374, 0806 515 4338, 0806 329 9264, and 0803 934 4870.
(NAN) (www.nannews.ng)
DOA/YMU
Edited by Yakubu Uba
