THE Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Police Command has arrested four individuals — including two sisters and a married couple — over a staged kidnapping designed to extort ₦5 million from their father.
According to a statement released today by FCT Police Public Relations Officer, SP Josephine Adeh, the incident was reported by one Innocent, a resident of Jikwoyi Phase II.
He told the police that his 16-year-old daughter, Lead Way Innocent, failed to return home on July 18, 2025, after leaving to write an exam at Government Secondary School, Karu.
Shortly after, he received a ransom demand of ₦5 million from unknown callers claiming to have abducted his daughter.
“Following the report, the Divisional Police Officer of Jikwoyi Division launched a discreet investigation,” the statement said.
“Through intelligence gathering and digital tracking, officers traced the phone number used in the ransom call to a residence in Jikwoyi Phase II.”
When officers arrived at the location, they found Lead Way Innocent with Tina Mayowa, calmly eating and conversing — showing no signs of distress.
Further investigations led to the arrest of Lead Way’s elder sister, Joy Innocent, and Joy’s boyfriend, Mayowa Adedeji, who is legally married to Tina Mayowa.
“The investigation revealed that Joy Innocent and her boyfriend, Adedeji, orchestrated the fake abduction to extort money from their father,” the statement said.
“Lead Way was also complicit, willingly staying at the residence throughout the staged abduction while her family panicked and attempted to raise the ransom.”
The Commissioner of Police for the FCT, CP Ajao Adewale, condemned the act, calling it “a deeply troubling betrayal of trust within a family.”
He advised parents to pay closer attention to their children’s emotional and behavioral changes and to foster open, honest communication at home.
All four suspects are currently in police custody and have confessed to the crime. They will face charges in court once investigations are concluded.
The police urged the public to continue reporting suspicious activities as part of efforts to ensure community safety.