The Lagos State Police Command has arrested a 20-year-old man who allegedly faked his kidnap and also demanded over $700,000 ransom from his dad.
The state police spokesman, Benjamin Hundeyin, said this on Saturday while reacting to a post by an X user with the handle @FlackoT.
He said the 20-year-old suspect, Collins Oluchukwu Ikwebe, was arrested, along with five of his schoolmates (one male, five females) in a short-let four-bedroom apartment in Lekki where have been staying for the past 10 days.
According to him, at different times spanning two weeks, different sums— $500,000; $200,000; N2,000,000; N50,000 and N30,000 — were requested from the suspect’s dad.
The X user wrote that he was detained by the Ikeja police division over the kidnapping of someone he knew nothing about.
“Guys I’m locked up in Ikeja police station. I don’t have enough time and don’t know what to do so this is my only alternative so y’all know what happened to me,” the post reads.
However, Hundeyin stated that: “Someone faked his kidnapping and requested ransom from his dad. His dad reported the case to sars. They tracked his phone.
“I genuinely knew nothing about it until I reached the station. His dad came to the station and requested his release. But they insisted on trying the case to court which could take up to three years to resolve. Other people that were in the apartment with him are locked up as well.
“Following a report from his family, our investigation established that 20-year-old Collins Oluchukwu Ikwebe faked his own kidnap.
“His dad received several calls from Collins’ number but with different voices giving instructions on what amount of money to be paid and methods of payment.”
He further stated: “At different times spanning two weeks, different sums — $500,000; $200,000; N2,000,000; N50,000 and N30,000 — were requested from Collins’ dad.
“On Thursday, June 20, 2024, detectives of the Lagos State Police Command eventually busted a short-let four-bedroom apartment in Lekki where Collins and five of his schoolmates (one male, four females) had been staying for the past 10 days.
“Investigation is being concluded to establish the extent of culpability of the other five occupants of the apartment. For now, none of the suspects has been exonerated.”
