Police arrest son, four others for faking kidnapping to extort mother in Lagos
On Thursday, December 18, 2025, about 1 p.m., Anti-Kidnapping Tactical Squad operatives of the Lagos State Police Command arrested five suspects in relation to a fake kidnapping in the state
The crime involved a school-going boy begging for compassion in a kidnappers’ den. The suspects who were involved in this incident and were later caught by the police due to this fake kidnap scenario include: Anyabike Kingsley, who is 20 years old; Kosiko Patrick, who is 17 years old; Victor Aligwo, who is 15 years old; David Odudu, who is 19
Preliminary findings indicated that the case, which initially caused public concern, was earlier reported at Ago Palace Division on November 26, 2025, as a case involving a missing persons matter.
As a result of the investigations that took place, findings indicated that the alleged kidnap was deliberately planned and organized by the victim himself, one Victor Aligwo, in collaboration with four other of his associates, using the room for his accomplice, one Umeh Victor.
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Following a rigorous intelligence-based investigation, the suspects were arrested on the 17th and 18th of December 2025, respectively, from Volkswagen Roundabout and Ago Palace.
Further inquiry revealed that the suspects allegedly conspired to stage the fake kidnapping with the aim of extorting money from the mother of the suspected victim, Victor Aligwo, who had just received the amount of N4 million from a contribution.
In order to actualise and make the kidnapping a reality, the suspects recorded a video showing Victor Aligwo pleading to request for help, which made fear and panic in the mind of his mother to pay a ransom to the kidnapper as a way to rescue him.
A ransom of N1.7 million was paid and eventually transferred to the account of one of the fraudsters posing as kidnappers by the mother in exchange for the release of the fraudster. This was followed by an arrest of all the suspects by the police for using the Point-of-Sale (POS) terminal.
Spokesman for the command, Abimbola Adebisi, said that the suspects have yet to be charged to court for prosecution. The investigation into the incident is still ongoing.
The Commissioner of Police, Lagos State Command, Olohundare Jimoh, has cautioned all criminal elements to stop all forms of crimes and restrict all forms of criminal actions within the state, assuring that the Command will not relent in ensuring safety and security of lives and property.
The Command assures that this particular incident is not a kidnapping case and that there is nothing to be alarmed about. Citizens are encouraged to go on with their lawful endeavors and report any unusual acts or movements to the Police via the emergency numbers issued by the Command: 0706 101 9374, 0806 515 4338, 0806 329 9264, or 0803 934 4870.
