Lagos State Police Command has uncovered an alleged staged kidnapping involving Collins Oluchukwu Ikwebe, a 20-year-old student, and five of his schoolmates.

The incident came to light following a viral social media post on Saturday, in which a friend of one of the suspects, identified as 888 @FlackoT on X, disclosed details from Ikeja Police Station. The post reads, “Someone faked his kidnapping and requested ransom from his dad. his dad reported the case to SARS. They tracked his phone.”

Confirming the events, Police Public Relations Officer SP Benjamin Hundeyin provided insights into the investigation. “Following a report from his family, our investigation revealed that Collins Oluchukwu Ikwebe orchestrated his own kidnapping,” Hundeyin stated.

The police spokesperson described a sophisticated scheme involving multiple ransom demands. “Collins’ dad received calls from his son’s phone with different voices instructing on various amounts and methods of payment,” he explained.

Over a two-week period, ransom demands ranged from $500,000 to as low as N30,000. The breakthrough occurred on Thursday, June 20, 2024, when Lagos State detectives raided a short-let four-bedroom apartment in Lekki. There, Collins and five schoolmates (one male, four females) had been residing for the past 10 days.

The investigation remains ongoing as police assess the involvement of the five individuals found in the apartment. “For now, none of the suspects has been exonerated,” emphasized Hundeyin.