The police have detained a 29-year-old Lagos State Waste Management Authority (LAWMA) employee and his colleague for reportedly faking his kidnapping and demanding N150,000 in ransom.
Benjamin Hundeyin, the state’s police spokesperson, confirmed the arrest in a statement on Friday.
Mr Hundeyin stated that the arrest was made by investigators from the command’s State Criminal Investigation Department following a thorough investigation into the suspects.
According to him, after faking his own kidnapping, the 29-year-old suspect went to Lugbe in Abuja and filmed a video of himself in captivity.
Mr Hundeyin said the suspect told his 32-year-old coworker about his plot, and they demanded N5 million in ransom before being apprehended. They eventually settled for N150,000 following protracted negotiations.
“Investigations revealed that the first suspect, who was arrested in Abuja conspired with second suspect to self-stage his kidnap and made the video that was sent to the co-worker for ransom.
“The first suspect also confessed to have shared the ransom equally with the second suspect and used his share in acquiring a generator and other items for himself.
“Suspects will be arraigned in court at the conclusion of investigations,” he said.
According to the spokesperson, Lagos Commissioner of Police, Abiodun Alabi, praised the detectives for their work.
Mr Hundeyin warned Lagos citizens that criminals would not go unpunished if they committed crimes.
