Lagos police arrest 4 for faking kidnap, demanding N5m ransom

The operatives of the Lagos State Police Command have arrested no fewer than four suspects for allegedly faking abduction in the state.

The arrested suspects are three women – Margret Itodo, 25; Agnes Ogbeh, aged 23; and 24-year-old Esther Anyanwu – and a 24-year-old man, Anthony Chinakwe.

The Lagos State Police Public Relations Officer, SP Benjamin Hundeyin, who disclosed this in a statement on Friday, March 22, 2024, said the suspects were arrested for allegedly faking the abduction of Agnes.

Hundeyin revealed that Agnes, a resident of Akure, the Ondo State capital, on Tuesday, March 19, travelled to Lagos and was reportedly kidnapped in Lagos.

He said Agnes’ family in Akure received a video showing her and one other tied, gagged, and groaning with blood droplets around them.

Lagos police arrest 2 students for faking kidnap for N150m

The police spokesman said the fake kidnappers demanded the sum of N5 million for the release of Agnes.

Hundeyin noted upon receipt of the complaint, the detectives of the Lagos State Police Command commenced an investigation into the matter, adding that the hideout was located where Agnes, the other lady in the video, and two others were found living freely together.

He said: “Further investigations revealed that Margaret Itodo is a professional make-up artist who was hired to make the video look real.

“All four have made confessional statements and are to be arraigned at the conclusion of investigation.”

Hundeyin quoted the Lagos State Commissioner of Police, Adegoke Fayoade, as commending the detectives for a timely investigation and calling on Lagosians to be vigilant and report any suspicious activity around them to the nearest security agency.

The Star