Lagos Police Uncover Fake Kidnapping Plot, Arrest Five Over ₦1.7M Extortion Scheme

The Lagos State Police Command has arrested five suspects linked to a staged kidnapping plot after uncovering that a viral video showing a schoolboy pleading for help was part of a deliberate extortion scheme.

Police said the incident, which initially caused widespread public concern, was first reported as a missing person case on 26 November 2025 at the Ago Palace Division. However, further investigations revealed the apparent abduction was orchestrated by the alleged victim, 15-year-old Victor Aligwo, in collaboration with four friends.

The group allegedly staged the kidnapping inside a friend’s room and circulated a distress video to pressure the boy’s mother into paying a ransom. Investigators learned the suspects targeted her after she had recently received a ₦4 million contribution and ultimately paid ₦1.7 million via a Point‑of‑Sale transfer to secure her son’s “release.”

Police tracked the ransom payment through the POS terminal, leading to the arrests of all five suspects in separate locations in Lagos between 17 and 18 December 2025. The suspects — aged between 15 and 20 — are currently in custody as investigations continue.

The Lagos Commissioner of Police, CP Olohundare Jimoh, warned that anyone involved in criminal activities will face justice and assured residents that the command remains committed to protecting lives and property.