The Lagos State Police Command has arrested five individuals in connection with a staged kidnapping scheme that was falsely presented as a real abduction and circulated widely on social media.
The arrests followed investigations by the Anti-Kidnapping Tactical Squad after a viral video showed a schoolboy allegedly held captive and pleading for assistance. The video had earlier triggered public anxiety before police uncovered the true nature of the incident.
According to preliminary findings, the case was first reported as a missing person complaint at the Ago Palace Police Division on November 26, 2025. Further investigation, however, revealed that the supposed victim, Victor Aligwo, conspired with four friends to fabricate the kidnapping. The incident was reportedly staged in the room of one of the suspects, Umeh Victor.
Through intelligence-driven operations, police operatives apprehended the suspects between December 17 and 18, 2025, in the Volkswagen Roundabout and Ago Palace areas. Those arrested are Kosiko Patrick (17), Victor Aligwo (15), David Odudu (19), Anyabike Kingsley (20), and Umeh Victor (19). All suspects are currently in custody as investigations continue.
Police revealed that the motive behind the staged kidnapping was financial extortion. The suspects allegedly targeted Victor Aligwo’s mother after learning she had recently received ₦4 million from a contribution. To make the plot appear genuine, the group recorded and circulated a distress video, creating fear and pressuring the family into paying ransom.
A sum of ₦1.7 million was reportedly paid and transferred through a Point-of-Sale (POS) terminal linked to one of the suspects. Police traced the transaction, leading to the identification and arrest of all those involved. The money was later shared among the suspects.
The Commissioner of Police, Lagos State Command, CP Olohundare Jimoh, has issued a strong warning to individuals engaging in criminal schemes, stressing that such acts will be thoroughly investigated and prosecuted. He reaffirmed the Command’s commitment to maintaining safety and public order across the state.
The Police Command has assured residents that the incident was not a genuine kidnapping case and urged the public to remain calm. Citizens are encouraged to report suspicious activities through the Lagos State Police emergency lines: 0706 101 9374, 0806 515 4338, 0806 329 9264, and 0803 934 4870.