20-year-old Student Faked Kidnap, Requested Over $700,000 Ransom from his father
The Lagos State Police Command has uncovered a staged kidnapping involving Collins Ikwebe, a 20-year-old student, and five of his fellow students, according to reports. The incident was brought to light after a distressing social media post by a friend of one of the suspects went viral over the weekend.
In the post, the friend, known as 888 @FlackoT on social media, expressed being locked up in Ikeja Police Station and unaware of the situation until reaching the station. The friend revealed that Collins had faked his own kidnapping, prompting his father to report the case to SARS, who tracked Collins’ phone to uncover the scheme.
Confirming the incident, the Lagos State Police Public Relations Officer, SP Benjamin Hundeyin, disclosed that Collins had orchestrated multiple ransom demands. These demands, made over a period of two weeks, varied widely from $500,000 to as little as N30,000, with instructions on payment methods provided by different voices over the phone.
The breakthrough in the investigation occurred on June 20, 2024, when detectives raided a short-term rental apartment in Lekki. There, Collins and his five schoolmates, comprising one male and four females, had been residing for the past ten days. Hundeyin stressed that while investigations continue, the involvement of these individuals remains under scrutiny, with no suspects currently cleared of involvement.
The police spokesperson emphasized the seriousness of the case and the ongoing efforts to ascertain the extent of each person’s participation in the staged kidnapping.
The Lagos State Police Command said it has uncovered what appears to be
a staged
