Eko Hot Blog reports that the Lagos State Police Command has uncovered what appears to be a staged kidnapping involving a 20-year-old student, Collins Ikwebe, and five of his schoolmates, according to a recent statement.
The case came to light following a distressing social media post by a friend of one of the suspects, which quickly went viral over the weekend. In the post, the friend, identified as 888 @FlackoT on X, disclosed, “Guys, I’m locked up in Ikeja Police Station. I don’t have enough time and I don’t know what to do. So, this is my only alternative. So, y’all know what happened to me.”
The X user went on to reveal details of the alleged hoax, stating, “Someone faked his kidnapping and requested for ransom from his dad. his dad reported the case to SARS. They tracked his phone. I genuinely knew nothing about it until I reached the station.”
Responding to these claims, the state Police Public Relations Officer, SP Benjamin Hundeyin, confirmed the incident and provided further details.
EDITOR’S PICK
- NDLEA Uncovers ‘Snake-guarded Shrine’ Storing Illicit Drugs In Edo
- FG To Penalize Airport Officials For Extortion, Begging
- Christ Embassy Church On Fire In Lagos
“Following a report from his family, our investigation revealed that 20-year-old Collins Oluchukwu Ikwebe faked his own kidnapping,” Hundeyin stated.
He elaborated on the scheme, explaining, “His dad received several calls from Collins’ number but with different voices giving instructions on what amount of money to be paid and methods of payment.”
Over a span of two weeks, the perpetrators made various ransom demands, ranging from $500,000 to as low as N30,000, according to the police spokesperson.
“The breakthrough occurred on Thursday, June 20, 2024, when detectives of the Lagos State Police Command discovered a short-let four-bedroom apartment in Lekki where Collins and his five schoolmates (one male, four females) had been residing for the past 10 days,” Hundeyin disclosed.
While investigations continue, Hundeyin emphasized that none of the suspects have been cleared of involvement in the incident yet.
Click here to watch our video of the week:
Advertise or Publish a Story on EkoHot Blog:
Kindly contact us at [email protected]. Breaking stories should be sent to the above email and substantiated with pictorial evidence.
Citizen journalists will receive a token as data incentive.
Call or Whatsapp: 0803 561 7233, 0703 414 5611
