Lagos State Police Command has arrested a 26-year-old housewife, Misturah Bada, alongside her alleged accomplice, 30-year-old Adedamola Daniel, for reportedly staging her own kidnapping and extorting N2.5 million from her husband, who lives in South Africa.
In a statement issued on Saturday by the Command’s spokesperson, SP Abimbola Adebisi, the suspects were apprehended by operatives of the Command Special Squad following investigations into a reported abduction that was later uncovered to be fabricated.
According to the police, the Command received a distress call on November 24, 2025, at about 10:00 p.m. from the woman’s husband, who claimed that his wife had been abducted by armed men demanding a ransom of N10 million, which was later negotiated down to N3 million.
Eventually, N2.5 million was paid, but the alleged kidnappers reportedly failed to release the victim.
Following the report, the Command deployed both human and technical intelligence assets to trace the purported kidnappers.
Mrs Bada was later released and reunited with her family.
During initial questioning, she claimed she had been abducted by six armed men in a silver Toyota Venza, taken to an undisclosed location, and robbed of her iPhone 12 Pro Max.
She also stated that the ransom was paid into her bank account before being handed over to the kidnappers.
However, the police said discrepancies in her narrative raised suspicion, prompting further investigation.
On December 3, 2025, operatives arrested Adedamola Daniel in Ede, Osun State.
A SIM card used to register the WhatsApp account through which the ransom negotiations were conducted was recovered from him.
During interrogation, Daniel allegedly confessed that Mrs Bada asked him to use his SIM card to create the WhatsApp account used for the negotiations.
He further admitted that he provided the one-time password sent to his line, which enabled her to operate the account.
When confronted with the findings, Mrs Bada reportedly admitted to faking her own abduction in order to obtain money from her husband.
Subsequent investigations also led to the recovery of the iPhone 12 Pro Max she earlier claimed had been taken by the kidnappers.
The phone was recovered from one Yusuf Sodiq, 34, who told investigators that he bought it from her for N380,000 and was cautioned not to insert a SIM card into the device.
The Commissioner of Police, Lagos State Command, CP Olohundare Jimoh, reaffirmed the Command’s commitment to safeguarding lives and property.
He warned the public against making false reports and engaging in deceptive acts capable of diverting critical security resources.
He also encouraged residents to continue their lawful activities and promptly report suspicious movements through the Command’s designated emergency channels.
Police authorities said investigations are ongoing and that the suspects will be charged to court upon the conclusion of the probe.
