The Lagos State Police Command has identified a disturbing trend known as ‘constructive kidnapping,’ where women are lured by kidnappers posing as online friends or romantic partners. This alarming scheme has already ensnared 16 women, all of whom have been rescued by the police.
According to the Lagos State Commissioner of Police, CP Olawale Ishola, these kidnappers exploit social media to create a deceptive sense of friendship. They entice victims to travel to Lagos under the guise of a romantic meeting, offering gifts of up to N500,000 and covering flight expenses. Upon arrival, the women are taken to luxurious hotels.
However, once there, their phones are confiscated, and money is fraudulently transferred from their accounts. The kidnappers then contact the victims’ families to demand a ransom.
CP Ishola explained, “It is called constructive kidnapping because a woman is lured from her safe environment to Lagos by a group of individuals or a single perpetrator. They make it irresistible by providing a business-class flight ticket, N500,000, and booking a lavish five-star hotel. The victim feels as though she has ‘arrived’, completely unaware that it’s all a deceitful setup.”
“I have rescued at least 16 women from this trap. As soon as they arrive, the kidnappers exploit them, seize their phones, transfer their funds, and subsequently reach out to their relatives to demand ransom, threatening to kill the victim if their demands are not met. It’s termed ‘constructive’ because the victims unwittingly walk into the trap laid out for them. However, we are always one step ahead.”
In a separate incident, a 15-year-old girl conspired with her boyfriend to fake her own kidnapping in a bid to extort ransom from her parents. “On January 8, 2025, her mother reported her missing, and by January 9, the alleged kidnappers had demanded a ransom. We tracked down the girl and her boyfriend to his home, where they were found with a baby,” said CP Ishola.
The police have issued a stark warning to the public, particularly women, to exercise caution when engaging with strangers online. “Always be vigilant. If you see something suspicious, say something,” CP Ishola advised.
