Lagos police arrest teens for staging fake kidnap and extorting N1.7m
Lagos State Police Command has arrested five teenagers for allegedly faking a kidnapping to extort money from a family. The suspects, including 15-year-old Victor Aligwo, staged the incident in late November 2025 and shared a distress video online. Police investigations led to their arrest on December 17 and 18, 2025. The authorities have reassured residents that there is no cause for panic.
What happened
- Five suspects, aged 15 to 20, were arrested by police on December 17 and 18, 2025 after a staged kidnapping went viral.
- The fake abduction was planned by Victor Aligwo and four friends to extort ₦1.7 million from Victor’s mother, who had recently received ₦4 million.
- The group filmed a distress video to pressure the family into paying the ransom, which was then shared among the suspects.
- Police traced the ransom payment via a POS terminal, leading to the swift arrest of all involved.
- Commissioner CP Olohundare Jimoh emphasized that the incident was not a real kidnapping and urged the public to report suspicious activities.
