The Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Police Command has arrested four suspects in connection with a fraudulent kidnapping scheme designed to extort ₦5 million from a resident of Jikwoyi, Abuja.
The case, which was brought to light by the victim, a man identified as Mr. Innocent, began in July 2025 when his 16-year-old daughter, Lead Way Innocent, failed to return home after a school examination. Shortly after her disappearance, the father began receiving ransom demands from anonymous callers, prompting him to seek help from the Jikwoyi Police Division.
The investigation took a sharp turn when digital tracking led police to a local residence where they found the “missing” teenager. Rather than being held captive, the 16-year-old was discovered relaxing and eating with Tina Mayowa, the wife of one of the accomplices.
Further interrogation revealed that the entire plot was masterminded by the girl’s elder sister, Joy Innocent, and her boyfriend, Mayowa Adedeji. According to the police, Joy remained at her father’s home acting the part of a distraught sibling while her sister hidden away, both waiting for their father to pay the ₦5 million ransom to Joy’s boyfriend.
SP Josephine Adeh, the command’s spokesperson, confirmed that all four individuals – the two sisters, the boyfriend, and his wife – are now in custody. The police found that Lead Way was a willing participant in the ruse, intentionally staying out of sight to pressure her father into the payment.
The suspects are being held for further investigation into the conspiracy and attempted extortion, as the FCT Command continues to warn the public against faking crimes, which diverts critical security resources away from genuine emergencies.