Police investigations established that the fake kidnapping was carried out in the room of one of the suspects, Umeh Victor, where the group recorded the distress video.
The Lagos State Police Command said it has dismantled a fake and stage-managed kidnapping syndicate following the arrest of five suspects linked to a viral video showing a schoolboy pleading for mercy in what was portrayed as a kidnappers’ den.
According to a statement issued on Friday, December 19, 2025, by the Public Relations Officer of the Command, SP Abimbola Adebisi, operatives of the Anti-Kidnapping Tactical Squad arrested the suspects at about 1:00 p.m. on Thursday, December 18, 2025, after an intelligence-led investigation uncovered that the widely circulated video was part of a carefully orchestrated plot to extort money.
Adebisi stated that the case was initially reported on November 26, 2025, at the Ago Palace Police Division as a missing-person incident, sparking widespread public concern.
However, preliminary investigations later revealed that the alleged kidnapping was deliberately staged by the supposed victim, Victor Aligwo, in collaboration with four of his friends.
Police investigations established that the fake kidnapping was carried out in the room of one of the suspects, Umeh Victor, where the group recorded the distress video.
The police spokesperson said the footage was then circulated to create fear and panic, particularly in the mind of the victim’s mother, with the aim of extracting a ransom from the victim’s mother.
But following discreet surveillance and intelligence gathering, Adebisi said the suspects were arrested between December 17 and 18, 2025, at Volkswagen Roundabout and within the Ago Palace area of Lagos.
Adebisi identified the arrested suspects as 17-year-old Kosiko Patrick, 15-year-old Victor Aligwo, 19-year-old David Odudu, 20-year-old Anyabike Kingsley, and 19-year-old Umeh Victor, adding that all suspects are currently in police custody.
Adebisi also stated that further investigations revealed that the group allegedly conspired to stage the fake kidnapping after learning that Victor Aligwo’s mother had recently received the sum of ₦4 million from a contribution.
Acting on this information, the suspects reportedly devised the plan to extort money from her under the guise of a ransom demand.
“To actualise and make the fake kidnapping real, the suspects recorded and circulated a distress video showing Victor Aligwo pleading for help, thereby creating fear and panic in the mind of his mother and his family to pay ransom to the alleged kidnappers,” Adebisi stated.
Police disclosed that a ransom of ₦1.7 million was eventually paid by the victim’s mother and transferred to the bank account of one of the suspects through a Point-of-Sale (POS) terminal. The money was later shared among the group.
“A ransom of One Million, Seven Hundred Thousand Naira (₦1.7 million) was paid and later transferred to the account of one of the fake kidnappers by the mother to get him freed,” the police said.
“The money was later shared amongst them. Following the payment, the Police operatives traced the Point-of-Sale (POS) terminal used for the ransom transaction, leading to the arrest of all suspects involved.
“Investigation into the matter is ongoing, and all the suspects will be charged before a court of competent jurisdiction for their prosecution.”
Reacting to the development, the Commissioner of Police, Lagos State Command, CP Olohundare Jimoh, warned criminal elements to desist from all forms of criminal activities, stressing that the Command would not tolerate acts aimed at defrauding or terrorising residents.
He assured Lagos residents that the Command remains fully committed to the protection of lives and property and will continue to deploy intelligence-driven policing to curb crime across the state.
The Command also reassured the public that the incident was not a genuine case of kidnapping and urged residents not to panic.
The Command encouraged members of the public to go about their lawful activities and to promptly report any suspicious acts or movements to the police.