Dare Babalola
Four individuals have been apprehended by the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Police Command over a shocking fake kidnapping involving a man, his wife, his girlfriend and her sister.
The FCT Police Public Relations Officer, Josephine Adeh identified the suspects as Mayowa Adedeji (the man), Tina Mayowa (his legal wife), Joy Innocent (the girlfriend) and 16-year-old Lead Way Innocent (Joy’s sister).
Adeh said the staged kidnapping scheme aimed at extorting ₦5 million from the girls’ father, Mr Innocent.
The PPRO said the incident was reported to the police by Mr Innocent who said his teenage daughter had been missing since 18 July, after leaving home to write an exam at Government Secondary School, Karu.
Mr Innocent, a resident of Jikwoyi Phase II later received a call from an unknown number demanding a ₦5 million ransom for her release.
An investigation was immediately launched by the Divisional Police Officer in Jikwoyi leading officers to a residence within the same community.
There, they found the supposedly abducted teenager, Lead Way Innocent, sitting calmly and chatting with Mrs. Mayowa — far from the condition of a distressed kidnapping victim.
Investigating further, the police discovered that Lead Way had not only faked her own abduction but was an active participant in the extortion scheme.
Her older sister, Joy, remained at home and pretended ignorance, watching their father suffer emotionally as he struggled to raise the ransom money. Both girls had conspired with Joy’s boyfriend, Mr. Adedeji, who involved his wife, Tina, to complete the ploy.
“All four suspects have confessed to the crime and are currently in police custody. They will be charged to court after the conclusion of the investigation,” the PPRO stated.
The FCT Commissioner of Police, Ajao Sunday Adewale said the act was a troubling betrayal within the family and urged parents and guardians to foster better communication with their children and remain alert to signs of distress or misconduct.
