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The Lagos State Police Command says it is monitoring social media platforms to detect and curb a rise in staged kidnapping cases across the state.
The command said several videos circulating online and portraying abduction incidents were later found to be orchestrated scams that caused public panic and led to ransom payments.
Speaking in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria on Sunday, police spokesperson Abimbola Adebisi said the Commissioner of Police, Olohundare Jimoh, had ordered the deployment of tactical squads and anti-crime units to strengthen rapid response across the state.
“The command is also closely monitoring reports on social media and other platforms to promptly verify and address any incidents that may cause public anxiety,” Adebisi said.
She said Area Commanders and Divisional Police Officers had been directed to work with community leaders and residents to improve intelligence gathering and information sharing.
Adebisi said the command had recently uncovered several fake abduction cases linked to extortion. According to her, the woman’s husband, who resides in South Africa, was informed that armed men had kidnapped his wife in Lagos.
“One such case involved a 26-year-old housewife whose supposed abduction set off alarm bells across borders,” she said. The ransom demand was a steep N10 million before it was negotiated down to N3 million. Hoping to save his wife’s life, he paid N2.5 million, yet she was not released,” Adebisi said.
She said investigations revealed that the abduction had been staged, with the woman working with an accomplice in Osun State who provided a SIM card used to negotiate the ransom via WhatsApp.
Adebisi urged residents to remain vigilant and report suspicious activities, stressing that security is a shared responsibility.
She also advised families to establish internal verification methods and avoid transferring money without confirmation.
