Kehinde Fajobi
The Lagos State Police Command has uncovered a new kidnapping trend, termed “Constructive Kidnapping,” in which unsuspecting women are lured to Lagos under the guise of internet friendships or romantic relationships.
Lagos State Commissioner of Police, CP Olawale Ishola, disclosed the disturbing development while briefing journalists over the weekend on the command’s achievements from September 2024 to January 2025.
According to Ishola, kidnappers use social media to establish contact with their victims, posing as friends or potential lovers.
They then entice their targets with luxury, including flight tickets and as much as ₦500,000, to visit Lagos.
Upon arrival, the victims are taken to five-star hotels, where their phones are seized, and their money transferred out. The kidnappers then contact their families, demanding ransoms and issuing death threats.
“It is termed ‘Constructive Kidnapping’ because these women are lured into a trap without realising it,” Ishola explained.
“The kidnappers make the offer so enticing—business-class tickets, money, and luxurious hotels—that the victims feel like they’ve made it. But it’s all a ruse. So far, we’ve rescued 16 ladies caught in this scheme.”
He added, “Once they arrive, the kidnappers seize their phones, empty their accounts, and then demand ransoms from their families. We’ve been working tirelessly to stay ahead of these criminals.”
Ishola urged the public, particularly women, to exercise caution while engaging with strangers online.
“If you see something, say something,” he warned.
In another case, the command exposed how a 15-year-old girl conspired with her boyfriend to fake her kidnapping and demand a ransom from her parents.
“On January 8, 2025, a mother reported that her daughter, Anuoluwapo Victoria, left home and failed to return. The next day, she received a phone call with a bank account to pay a ransom for her daughter’s release,” Ishola said.
He revealed that the police traced the girl to her boyfriend’s house, where she was found with a baby.
“The girl and her boyfriend were apprehended on Friday night. They had been collecting money from her parents while pretending she had been kidnapped,” Ishola added.
The Lagos State Police Command continues to intensify efforts to protect residents and combat emerging criminal trends in the state.