Lagos Police Uncover Alleged Staged Kidnapping Plot

The Lagos State Police Command has detained a 26-year-old housewife, Misturah Bada, and a 30-year-old man, Adedamola Daniel, over an alleged plot to stage her abduction and extort money from her husband, who is based in South Africa.

The Lagos staged kidnapping case came to light following a kidnapping report received by the Command on November 24, 2025.

According to the police spokesperson, SP Abimbola Adebisi, the victim’s husband contacted the police through an emergency line, claiming that armed men had kidnapped his wife and demanded a ransom. The initial demand was reportedly N10 million, which was later reduced to N3 million.

Police said the husband eventually paid N2.5 million. However, the alleged abductors still refused to release the victim, prompting the Command to intensify its investigation.

Following coordinated technical and intelligence-led efforts, Mrs. Bada was later located, freed, and reunited with her family.

During interrogation, she initially told investigators that she had been abducted by six armed men driving a silver Toyota Venza, taken to an unknown location, and dispossessed of her iPhone 12 Pro Max.

She further claimed that the ransom paid by her husband was first deposited into her personal bank account before being handed over to the abductors.

However, police said inconsistencies in her account raised red flags.

As investigations deepened into the Lagos staged kidnapping case, officers arrested Adedamola Daniel in Ede, Osun State, on December 3, 2025.

According to police findings, Daniel was linked to a SIM card connected to the WhatsApp account used for ransom negotiations. Investigators said he admitted that Mrs. Bada had requested the SIM card to gain access to the account used to communicate with her husband. He allegedly provided the one-time password sent to his line, enabling access.

After being confronted with the evidence, police said Mrs. Bada admitted to staging the kidnapping in an attempt to extort money from her husband.

Further investigations led to the recovery of the previously reported missing iPhone 12 Pro Max. A 34-year-old man, Yusuf Sodiq, was found in possession of the device.

Sodiq reportedly told police that he bought the phone from Mrs. Bada for N380,000 and was advised not to insert a SIM card into it.

Reacting to the incident, Lagos State Commissioner of Police, CP Olohundare Jimoh, warned the public against filing false reports or engaging in criminal deception. He stressed that such actions divert critical security resources away from genuine emergencies.

Police confirmed that all suspects involved in the Lagos staged kidnapping case will be charged in court once investigations are concluded.