The Lagos State Police Command has arrested a 26-year-old housewife, Misturah Bada, for allegedly faking her own abduction and extorting N2.5 million from her husband based in South Africa.
Also arrested in connection with the incident is Adedamola Daniel, who police said assisted in facilitating the staged kidnapping.
In a statement issued on Saturday, the command’s spokesperson, SP Abimbola Adebisi, said the suspects were apprehended by operatives of the police special squad following investigations into a reported abduction.
Adebisi said the police received a distress call on November 24, 2025, from Bada’s husband, who reported that his wife had been kidnapped by armed men demanding a ransom of N10 million, later negotiated down to N3 million.
The police said N2.5 million was eventually paid, but the alleged kidnappers failed to release the victim, prompting intensified investigations.
Following intelligence-led operations, Bada was later “rescued” and reunited with her family. She initially told investigators that she had been abducted by six armed men in a Toyota Venza and robbed of her iPhone 12 Pro Max.
However, police said inconsistencies in her account raised suspicion, leading to further investigations that resulted in the arrest of Daniel in Ede, Osun State, on December 3, 2025.
A SIM card used to create the WhatsApp account through which the ransom negotiations were conducted was recovered from Daniel. He reportedly confessed to providing the SIM card and one-time password used for the operation.
Police said Bada later confessed to staging her own kidnapping to extort money from her husband. Her missing phone was also recovered from a buyer who claimed he purchased it directly from her.
Reacting to the incident, the Commissioner of Police, CP Olohundare Jimoh, warned members of the public against filing false reports capable of diverting security resources.
He assured residents of the command’s commitment to protecting lives and property, adding that investigations were ongoing and the suspects would be charged to court upon the conclusion of the probe.
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