Police Expose New Abduction Trend by Criminals, Rescue 16 Women of unsuspecting victims...
The Lagos State Police Command has uncovered a troubling new trend of abductions referred to as "Constructive Kidnapping." This criminal scheme involves unsuspecting women being lured to Lagos by criminals posing as online friends or romantic interests. The police have successfully rescued 16 women who had been ensnared by this deceptive plot.
The modus operandi of the kidnappers is to befriend their victims on social media, gradually gaining their trust. They then invite the women to Lagos under the pretext of a romantic meeting or a business opportunity. To make the offer even more alluring, the criminals offer enticing incentives such as business-class flight tickets, luxury hotel bookings, and cash amounts reaching as high as N500,000.
Once the victims arrive in Lagos, they are taken to luxury hotels, where their phones are seized, their cash is stolen, and their families are contacted with ransom demands. The kidnappers often threaten to harm the women if their demands are not met. The victims are kept in distressing conditions while their families are coerced into paying the ransom.
Lagos State Commissioner of Police, CP Olawale Ishola, revealed the calculated nature of the crime, explaining that the term "Constructive Kidnapping" reflects how victims willingly leave their homes, lured by false promises of luxury and opportunity. “Once they arrive, they are trapped and subjected to extortion,” CP Ishola said. He emphasized the need for caution, particularly among young women, when interacting with strangers online.
In a related case, the police also rescued a 15-year-old girl, Anuoluwapo Victoria, who had staged her own kidnapping in collaboration with her boyfriend. The girl left her home on January 8, 2025, and her mother later received a ransom demand, with payment requested via a bank account.
Following an investigation, the police traced the girl to her boyfriend’s residence, where she was found along with a baby. CP Ishola explained that the mother had already sent money before the police apprehended the girl and her boyfriend. This case highlights the increasing need for vigilance and the importance of reporting suspicious activities promptly.
The Lagos State Police Command continues to urge the public, especially those active on social media, to be cautious when interacting with strangers. They also encourage individuals to report any suspicious behavior to the authorities to prevent further incidents of kidnapping and extortion.
This alarming trend of ‘Constructive Kidnapping’ underscores the vulnerability of social media users and the lengths to which criminals will go to exploit the trust of unsuspecting victims.