Police Foil Fake Kidnap Plot

FCT Police Foil Fake Kidnap Plot Orchestrated by Sisters and Married Couple: Experts Raise Concerns Over Nigeria’s Internal Security System

By Kingsley Omonobi |

The Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Police Command has uncovered a staged kidnapping involving two sisters and a married couple in Abuja — a disturbing revelation that has reignited concerns about the vulnerability of Nigeria’s internal security system and the rising trend of criminal manipulation of law enforcement structures.

According to a press release issued by the FCT Police Public Relations Officer, SP Josephine Adeh, on Tuesday, July 30, 2025, the Command apprehended four suspects who conspired to extort a ₦5 million ransom from their father under the guise of a fake kidnapping.

“On July 30th at about 11:30 a.m., Mr. Innocent, a resident of Jikwoyi Phase II, reported to the Police that his 16-year-old daughter, Miss LeadWay Innocent, had not returned home after heading out for an exam. Days later, he received a call from unknown individuals demanding ransom,” SP Adeh stated.

Further investigations led officers to a residence in the same Jikwoyi area, where the supposed victim, LeadWay, was discovered dining and conversing freely with one Mrs. Tina Mayowa — wife of Mr. Mayowa Adedeji, another suspect in the case. Subsequent intelligence and digital tracking revealed a sinister twist: LeadWay’s elder sister, Miss Joy Innocent, and her boyfriend, Mr. Adedeji (who is legally married), masterminded the scheme in collusion with the so-called victim. All four have confessed to the crime and are currently in custody.

While the FCT Police have been commended for swiftly resolving the case, security analysts warn that such incidents underscore a broader and more troubling reality — the misuse of Nigeria’s overstretched security apparatus and the exploitation of weak family and social structures.

Dr. Isa Bature, a criminologist at Nasarawa State University, stated:

“When civilians stage crimes like these and manipulate the criminal justice system, it distracts law enforcement from actual threats like insurgency, terrorism, kidnapping-for-ransom, and communal violence. It is a dangerous trend that questions our capacity to differentiate real danger from deception.”

Nigeria’s police force, already battling widespread insecurity, is increasingly being drawn into domestic dramas, staged crimes, and social media-driven disputes. Stakeholders say this not only consumes limited resources but diverts attention from real threats such as terrorism in the Northeast, banditry in the Northwest, and rising cultism in urban areas.

A senior officer in the FCT Command who requested anonymity said:

“For every fake kidnapping we investigate, a real one somewhere may be receiving less attention. It is deeply frustrating for us on the frontlines.”

In a firm response, the Commissioner of Police, FCT, CP Ajao Saka Adewale, condemned the act as “a betrayal of trust and manipulation of family bonds for selfish gain.” He further called on Nigerians to avoid publicizing personal affairs — especially marriages — on social media, which has been linked to escalating domestic tensions and blackmail cases.

“Families must reintroduce discipline, emotional intelligence, and digital literacy in parenting. The trend of weaponizing emotions and exploiting family trust for criminal gains is not just immoral — it’s criminal,” said CP Adewale.

He also reiterated that the suspects will be charged to court once the investigation is concluded, and warned that all such acts will be prosecuted to the full extent of the law.

Many Nigerians have taken to social media to express concern and outrage over the incident.

“How can sisters do this to their own father?” one user tweeted.
Another commented, “This is exactly why Nigeria’s security agencies are overwhelmed — handling both crime and clownery.”

Call to Action

The FCT Police Command urged residents to remain vigilant and report all suspicious activity via emergency lines:
📞 0803 200 3913 or 0806 158 1938.

As Nigeria continues to battle multifaceted security threats, such incidents highlight the urgent need for psychological, digital, and civic education among the youth. Misuse of national security mechanisms — even in “domestic plots” — erodes public trust and weakens state institutions from within.