Lagos Police Arrest Five Suspects for Faking Viral Kidnapping to Extort N4 Million from Mother
Olayiwola Matthew
Detectives from the Anti-Kidnapping Tactical Squad of the Lagos State Police Command have arrested five suspects for orchestrating a fake kidnapping incident that went viral on social media.
The suspects were apprehended between December 17 and 18, 2025, following a discreet investigation into a video showing a schoolboy, Victor Aligwo, 15, pleading for mercy in what appeared to be a kidnappers’ den.
A Plot for Extortion
Preliminary investigations revealed that the “victim,” Victor Aligwo, deliberately conspired with four friends to stage the abduction to extort money from his mother.
The suspects reportedly targeted the mother after learning she had recently received ₦4 million from a financial contribution. To make the ruse believable, they recorded a distress video of Aligwo and circulated it to his family, creating panic to force a ransom payment.
₦1.7 Million Ransom Paid and Shared
The plan initially succeeded when the mother, fearing for her son’s life, paid a ransom of ₦1.7 million. The funds were transferred to one of the suspects’ accounts and subsequently shared among the group.
However, police operatives tracked the Point-of-Sale (POS) terminal used for the transaction, which led to the arrest of the entire group at Volkswagen Roundabout and the Ago Palace area.
Police Warning and Public Reassurance
The Commissioner of Police, CP Olohundare Jimoh, warned criminal elements to desist from such acts, stating that the Command remains resolute in ensuring the safety of residents.
SP Abimbola Adebisi, the Police Public Relations Officer, reassured the public that the incident was not a genuine kidnapping and that all suspects would be prosecuted in a court of competent jurisdiction.
Residents are encouraged to remain vigilant and report suspicious activities via the Command’s emergency lines: 0706 101 9374 or 0806 515 4338.
By PRNigeria