The Lagos State Police Command has arrested a middle-aged scrap iron dealer, Adamu Abdullahi, for allegedly staging his own kidnap in a bid to extort N1.5 million from his employer.
The arrest was confirmed by the Lagos State Commissioner of Police, CP Tijani Fatai, who disclosed details of the incident while briefing journalists on recent criminal investigations carried out by the command.
According to the police commissioner, the matter was first reported on May 19 after one Abubakar visited a police station to report that his brother, Adamu Abdullahi, had gone missing and could no longer be reached.
The complaint immediately triggered concern, prompting detectives to begin investigations into the alleged disappearance.
During the course of the investigation, a disturbing video later surfaced showing Abdullahi being beaten with planks by unidentified individuals. In the footage, the supposed kidnappers allegedly threatened to kill him unless a ransom of N1.5 million was paid by his employer.
The video reportedly created panic among family members and associates who believed the scrap dealer had genuinely fallen victim to kidnappers.
However, according to CP Fatai, investigators became suspicious after carefully examining the footage and questioning the alleged victim upon his return home.
The commissioner explained that detectives noticed several inconsistencies in the incident, especially the absence of visible injuries or signs of physical assault on Abdullahi despite the severe beating shown in the video.
“Upon careful analysis of the video and subsequent investigation, detectives observed inconsistencies, as there were no visible signs of physical assault on the alleged victim after his return home,” the police commissioner stated.
Following the discovery, detectives intensified interrogation of the suspect, leading to a confession that the entire kidnap incident had been staged.
According to the police, Abdullahi admitted that he collaborated with accomplices to fake the abduction with the intention of fraudulently obtaining money from his employer.
The commissioner identified the accomplices as Adelowo Olalekan Akorede, aged 35, and Yusuf Lukman, aged 39, while another suspect involved in the operation remains at large.
Police investigations further revealed that the suspects carefully planned the fake kidnap operation to deceive Abdullahi’s employer, identified as Lawal Abubakar, who regularly entrusted him with large sums of money for scrap iron business transactions.
The police said the suspects believed the employer would quickly pay the ransom demand because of his existing business relationship with Abdullahi.
Further interrogation reportedly exposed another layer of financial misconduct involving the suspect.
According to CP Fatai, Abdullahi also confessed that he had diverted the sum of N490,000 previously given to him by his employer for business purposes.
The police disclosed that the money was recovered during the course of the investigation.
Investigators also visited the workshop where the fake kidnap video was allegedly recorded as part of efforts to gather additional evidence against the suspects.
The police commissioner stated that the command remains committed to exposing criminal schemes designed to defraud unsuspecting members of the public.
He warned residents against engaging in fraudulent activities or attempting to manipulate law enforcement agencies through fabricated incidents.
CP Fatai added that efforts were ongoing to track down and arrest the fleeing accomplice who remains on the run.
The incident has generated reactions among residents, many of whom expressed shock at the elaborate nature of the alleged scheme.
Security experts have also warned that fake kidnap incidents not only undermine public trust but also divert security resources away from genuine cases of abduction and violent crime.
The Lagos State Police Command reiterated its determination to clamp down on criminal activities across the state and urged members of the public to promptly report suspicious activities to security agencies.
The command also assured residents that all individuals involved in the alleged fake kidnap plot would be prosecuted in accordance with the law once investigations are concluded.
