Lagos Police have arrested five suspects for staging a fake kidnapping involving a 15-year-old boy, extorting ₦1.7 million from his mother after a viral distress video
Lagos Police Arrest Five Over Fake Kidnapping Plot That Went Viral, Recover ₦1.7m Ransom
Detectives attached to the Anti-Kidnapping Tactical Squad of the Lagos State Police Command have arrested five suspects for allegedly orchestrating a fake kidnapping scheme that recently went viral on social media.
The suspects were apprehended between December 17 and 18, 2025, following a covert investigation into a viral video showing a 15-year-old schoolboy, Victor Aligwo, begging for mercy in what appeared to be a kidnappers’ hideout.
Extortion Plot Uncovered
Preliminary police findings revealed that the supposed victim, Victor Aligwo, conspired with four friends to stage the abduction with the sole aim of extorting money from his mother.
Investigators disclosed that the suspects targeted the woman after learning she had recently received about ₦4 million from a financial contribution. To make the plot convincing, they recorded a distress video of the teenager and sent it to family members, deliberately creating panic to force the payment of a ransom.
₦1.7 Million Ransom Paid
The scheme initially succeeded when the boy’s mother, fearing for her son’s safety, paid a ransom of ₦1.7 million. The money was reportedly transferred into one of the suspects’ bank accounts and subsequently shared among the group.
However, police operatives were able to trace the Point-of-Sale (POS) terminal used in processing the funds, leading to the arrest of all five suspects at Volkswagen Roundabout and the Ago Palace area of Lagos.
Police Reassure the Public
Reacting to the development, the Commissioner of Police, CP Olohundare Jimoh, warned criminal elements to desist from such deceptive and criminal acts, stressing that the Command remains fully committed to protecting lives and property across the state.
Confirming the arrests, the Police Public Relations Officer, SP Abimbola Adebisi, assured residents that the incident was not a genuine kidnapping, adding that all suspects would be charged to court upon the conclusion of investigations.
She urged members of the public to remain vigilant and promptly report suspicious activities through the Command’s emergency lines: 0706 101 9374 or 0806 515 4338. Read More
