By Deborah Akpede
Lagos, Dec. 21, 2025
In a startling case that underscores the complex and evolving nature of financial crimes within personal relationships, the Lagos State Police Command has unraveled an elaborate hoax. Authorities have arrested a 26-year-old housewife and a 30-year-old male accomplice for allegedly orchestrating her own kidnapping to extort 2.5 million Naira from her husband.
The command’s spokesperson, SP Abimbola Adebisi, confirmed the arrest, revealing a narrative that shifted from a terrifying abduction to a premeditated scheme.
The Initial Distress: A Husband’s Nightmare
The incident began on November 24th, when the husband, reportedly residing in South Africa, contacted police emergency lines in a panic. He reported that his wife had been kidnapped by armed men. The alleged kidnappers initiated ransom negotiations, first demanding 10 million Naira, then reducing the sum to 3 million. In a desperate bid to secure his wife’s safety, the husband paid 2.5 million Naira. Yet, his wife remained in captivity—a detail that would later prove crucial to unraveling the truth.
“Upon receipt of the complaint, the Command Special Squad immediately deployed human and technical assets to track the alleged kidnappers,” stated SP Adebisi. The woman was eventually “released” and reunited with her family, seemingly bringing the traumatic episode to a close.
Cracks in the Story: Police Investigation Uncovers Inconsistencies
During standard post-release debriefing, the woman provided a detailed account: six armed men in a silver Toyota Venza abducted her, took her to a hideout, and seized her iPhone 12 Pro Max. She further claimed the ransom was paid into her bank account before she was forced to hand it over to her captors.
However, seasoned investigators noted significant flaws in her narrative. The flow of the ransom money—directly into the victim’s own account—was a major red flag, as genuine kidnappers almost never use a victim’s traceable account. This inconsistency triggered a deeper forensic and technical investigation.
The Unraveling: Digital Trails and a Confession
Police work quickly exposed the scheme. On December 3rd, operatives apprehended the male accomplice in Ede, Osun State. From him, they recovered the specific SIM card used to register the WhatsApp account that had conducted the ransom negotiations.
Under interrogation, the accomplice confessed. He revealed that the housewife had requested his SIM card specifically to create the anonymous WhatsApp account. He provided the One-Time Password (OTP) sent to his number, enabling her to operate the account and pose as her own kidnapper. This practice, known as “SIM card swapping” or using a “mule SIM,” is a common tactic to avoid direct digital linkage to a crime.
Confronted with this evidence, the housewife admitted to staging her own kidnapping. The motive appeared to be purely financial exploitation of her husband, leveraging the genuine fear that kidnapping incites in Nigerian families.
Recovering the Evidence: The Sold Phone
Further investigation led to another damning discovery: the iPhone 12 Pro Max she claimed was with the kidnappers. Police recovered it from a 34-year-old man who confessed to buying it from the suspect for 380,000 Naira. Crucially, he stated she had warned him not to insert any SIM card into the device—an instruction likely meant to prevent its location from being tracked via network signals, which would have exposed her story earlier.
Broader Implications and Official Warning
The Commissioner of Police in Lagos State, Mr. Olohundare Jimoh, reiterated the command’s commitment to protecting lives and property. He issued a stern warning against false reporting and criminal deception, emphasizing that such acts “divert critical security resources” from legitimate life-threatening emergencies.
This case serves as a stark example of how criminal ingenuity can exploit emotional vulnerabilities. It also highlights the importance of police diligence in verifying kidnapping claims, especially when financial transactions follow unusual patterns. The suspects are to be charged to court upon conclusion of the investigation, facing charges that could include conspiracy, obtaining money under false pretenses, and giving false information to law enforcement.
Public Advisory: The police urge residents to remain law-abiding and report only genuine suspicious activities. Misuse of emergency lines is a criminal offense. For real emergencies, contact the Lagos State Police Command through: 07061019374, 08065154338, 08063299264, or 08039344870.
Source: NAN News
