The Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Police Command has apprehended four individuals for allegedly orchestrating a fake kidnapping scheme aimed at extorting the sum of five million naira (₦5,000,000) from an elderly man — the biological father of two of the suspects involved in the conspiracy.
According to a statement issued on Tuesday by the FCT Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO), Superintendent of Police Josephine Adeh, the suspects include the man’s two daughters, one of whom acted as the supposed victim. The fake abduction was staged in the Jikwoyi area of Abuja with the sole aim of manipulating their father into paying a ransom.
The case came to light when the distressed father, Mr. Innocent, filed a complaint at the Jikwoyi Divisional Police Headquarters on July 30. He reported that his 16-year-old daughter had left the house on July 18, stating she was going to sit for an examination at Government Secondary School, Karu, but never returned home.
Days later, Mr. Innocent received a phone call from unknown persons demanding a ₦5 million ransom for the safe return of his daughter, who they claimed had been kidnapped. Alarmed by the development, the matter was promptly reported to the police.
Following the report, the Divisional Police Officer (DPO) of Jikwoyi Division launched a discreet and intelligence-driven investigation. Leveraging digital tracking technology and coordinated surveillance, officers traced the mobile number used to contact the complainant to a residence in Jikwoyi Phase II.
Upon arriving at the identified location, police operatives were shocked to discover the supposedly abducted girl alive and well, in the company of two other individuals. The trio were found sitting together, eating and chatting comfortably, displaying no signs of fear, distress, or coercion.
Further investigations unraveled the disturbing truth — the alleged kidnapping had been carefully plotted by the girl’s elder sister and her boyfriend, who is already married to another woman. The plan involved enlisting the younger sister to willingly go into hiding and pretend to have been kidnapped.
In a calculated act of deception, the elder sister remained at home, pretending to be unaware of the situation while watching her parents panic and scramble to meet the ransom demand. Throughout this time, the younger daughter was in hiding with the conspirators, fully aware and actively participating in the hoax.
The investigation led to the arrest of all four suspects, including the elder sister and her married boyfriend. During interrogation, they all voluntarily confessed to their roles in the staged abduction.
Superintendent Adeh confirmed that the suspects are currently in police custody and will be formally charged to court upon the conclusion of the investigation.
Meanwhile, the Commissioner of Police for the FCT, CP Ajao Adewale, has expressed strong condemnation over the incident, particularly highlighting the emotional manipulation and betrayal by family members. He described the act as morally reprehensible and deeply disturbing.
CP Adewale further urged parents and guardians to maintain open channels of communication with their children and to pay close attention to their emotional and psychological wellbeing. He stressed the importance of fostering a home environment where honesty and mutual trust are encouraged.