The Lagos State Police Command has arrested a 26-year-old housewife, Misturah Bada, and her alleged accomplice, Adedamola Daniel, over a fabricated kidnapping scheme that reportedly led to the extortion of ₦2.5 million from her husband, who resides in South Africa.
According to the police, the suspects were apprehended following investigations into a reported abduction that later turned out to be false. The Command’s spokesperson, SP Benjamin Hundeyin, disclosed that the case began on November 24, 2025, when the woman’s husband alerted authorities that his wife had been kidnapped by armed men demanding a ransom.
The ransom was initially set at ₦10 million but was later negotiated down to ₦3 million. Eventually, ₦2.5 million was paid, yet the supposed kidnappers failed to release the victim, raising suspicion.
Police operatives were subsequently deployed using both human intelligence and technical tracking tools to unravel the case. Mrs Bada was later found and reunited with her family.
During preliminary questioning, she claimed that six armed men abducted her in a silver Toyota Venza and took her to an unknown location, where her iPhone 12 Pro Max was allegedly stolen. She also stated that the ransom money was paid into her bank account before being handed over to the kidnappers.
However, inconsistencies in her account prompted deeper investigations. On December 3, 2025, police arrested Adedamola Daniel in Ede, Osun State. A SIM card used to create a WhatsApp account through which ransom negotiations were conducted was recovered from him.
During interrogation, Daniel reportedly admitted that Mrs Bada requested the SIM card to set up the WhatsApp account and that he supplied the one-time password used to activate it.
When confronted with the evidence, Mrs Bada allegedly confessed to staging her own kidnapping in order to obtain money from her husband. Further investigations also led to the recovery of the iPhone she had claimed was stolen. The phone was found in the possession of one Yusuf Sodiq, who told police that he bought it from her for ₦380,000 and was warned not to insert a SIM card into the device.
Reacting to the incident, the Commissioner of Police in Lagos State warned residents against making false reports capable of diverting critical security resources. He reiterated the Command’s commitment to protecting lives and property and urged the public to promptly report genuine emergencies.
Police authorities confirmed that investigations are ongoing and that the suspects will be charged to court once the probe is concluded.
