The Police in Lagos State has apprehended five suspects in connection with a stage-managed kidnapping incident involving a viral video of a schoolboy pleading for mercy in what was portrayed as a kidnappers’ den.
The Command’s spokesperson, SP Abimbola Adebisi, stated this in a statement on Friday in Lagos, saying the suspects’ ages range between 15 and 20.
“They were apprehended following discreet and intelligence-led investigations into the incident, which had earlier sparked widespread public fear on social media.
“Preliminary investigations revealed that the incident was initially reported as a missing person case at the Ago Palace Police Division on Nov. 26.
“However, further investigations established that the alleged kidnapping was deliberately orchestrated by the 15-year-old suspected victim, in collaboration with four of his friends,” she said.
Adebisi said the suspects used the room of one of their associates, a 19-year-old, to stage the fake kidnapping, adding that the suspects allegedly conspired to fake the kidnapping to extort money from the supposed victim’s mother, who had recently received N4 million from a contribution.
She said the suspects recorded and circulated a distress video showing the supposed victim pleading for help, creating fear and panic within his family.
The image maker said that a ransom of N1.7 million was eventually paid by the suspected victim’s mother and transferred into the account of one of the suspects to secure her son’s release, the money was later shared among the group.
She said that the operatives were able to trace the Point-of-Sale (POS) terminal used for the transaction, which led to the apprehension of all those involved.
According to her, investigations are ongoing and the suspects will be charged before a court of competent jurisdiction for prosecution.
She said that the Commissioner of Police, Mr Olohundare Jimoh, warned criminal elements to desist from all forms of crime, assuring residents that the Command would continue to intensify efforts to safeguard lives and property across the state.
Adebisi reassured residents that the incident was not a genuine case of kidnapping and urged the public to remain calm and continue their lawful activities.
She encouraged members of the public to promptly report any suspicious activities to the police through the Command’s emergency numbers: 0706 101 9374, 0806 515 4338, 0806 329 9264, and 0803 934 4870.
