The Lagos State Police Command says it’s monitoring social media platforms to uncover and deal with a wave of staged kidnappings in components of the state.
The command mentioned a number of viral movies of alleged abductions that triggered concern and ransom funds had been later found to be rigorously orchestrated scams.
Abimbola Adebisi, spokesperson of the command, disclosed this in an interview with the Information Company of Nigeria on Sunday.
Adebisi mentioned CP Olohundare Jimoh had deployed tactical squads and anti-crime models to strengthen fast response throughout the state.
She mentioned space commanders and divisional law enforcement officials had additionally been directed to interact group leaders and residents to enhance intelligence gathering.
“The command can be carefully monitoring experiences on social media and different platforms to promptly confirm and tackle any incidents that will trigger public anxiousness,” she mentioned.
Adebisi mentioned the police had lately recorded a number of instances of faux abductions and extortion.
Her phrases: “One such case concerned a 26-year-old housewife whose supposed abduction set off alarm bells throughout borders.
“Her husband, dwelling in South Africa, acquired frantic experiences that armed males had kidnapped his spouse in Lagos. The ransom demand was steep, N10 million, earlier than it was negotiated down to 3 million naira. Hoping to avoid wasting his spouse’s life, he paid N2.5 million, but she was not launched.
“It was that inconsistency that triggered deeper police scrutiny; a particular squad of the Lagos State Police Command was deployed, and what they uncovered was not a hostage state of affairs, however a rigorously choreographed rip-off.”
Adebisi mentioned investigations revealed that the girl staged the kidnapping with the assistance of an confederate in Osun state, who equipped the SIM card used to barter ransom on WhatsApp.
She mentioned the alleged sufferer later confessed and admitted that the iPhone she claimed was stolen in the course of the abduction had already been offered.
“In a associated improvement, the command apprehended 5 suspects aged between 15 and 20 years for orchestrating one other pretend kidnapping that went viral on social media,” she mentioned.
Adebisi mentioned investigations confirmed {that a} 15-year-old boy staged his personal abduction within the In the past Palace space of Lagos with the assistance of 4 associates to extort cash from his mom.
“A ransom of N1.7 million was paid earlier than detectives traced the transaction by a POS terminal, resulting in the arrest of the suspects,” she mentioned.
She mentioned the case, initially reported as a lacking particular person incident on November 26, 2025, triggered widespread panic earlier than the reality emerged.
Adebisi mentioned the police additionally apprehended a younger couple for allegedly faking the spouse’s kidnap to extort N10 million from kin and associates.
She mentioned investigations confirmed the plot was motivated by {financial} hardship and the husband’s failed makes an attempt to return to the US.
Adebisi mentioned the scheme unraveled at a faculty in Cappa, Lagos, after safety personnel turned suspicious and alerted the police.
She mentioned the 19-year-old spouse admitted planning what she described as a “prank kidnapping”, claiming she had “acted” to assist her husband deal with frustration over his journey plans.
Adebisi urged residents to stay vigilant and promptly report suspicious actions, stressing that safety is a shared accountability.
She warned the general public towards false reporting, felony deception, and acts able to diverting important safety sources.
Adebisi suggested households to determine inside verification codes, preserve common communication with family members, and confirm misery calls earlier than taking motion.
“Keep away from speeding to switch cash with out affirmation and promptly report suspicious actions to the closest police station or by the command’s emergency numbers: 07061019374, 08065154338, 08063299264 and 08039344870,” she mentioned.