The Lagos State Police Command has arrested a 26-year-old woman, identified as Misturah, for allegedly staging her own abduction to extort N2.5 million from her South African-based husband.
The elaborate hoax began on November 24, 2025, when the suspect’s brother-in-law reported her kidnapped by armed men. The “abductors” initially demanded N10 million, eventually negotiating the sum down to N3 million. After the husband paid N2.5 million into Misturah’s own bank account, she was “released” and reunited with her family.
Police investigations grew suspicious when Misturah claimed she was taken by six armed men in a silver Toyota Venza who seized her iPhone 12 Pro Max. Detectives eventually tracked a SIM card used for the ransom negotiations to a 30-year-old man named Daniel in Ede, Osun State.
Daniel confessed that Misturah, an online acquaintance, had asked for his SIM card to “resolve personal issues” with her husband, Ridwan. Further investigation led to the recovery of Misturah’s “stolen” iPhone, which she had actually sold to a buyer, Yusuf Sodiq, for N380,000.
Lagos Police spokesperson Abimbola Adebisi confirmed that Misturah admitted to the scam after being confronted with the evidence.
“Appropriate charges will be filed at the conclusion of the probe,” Adebisi stated, adding that investigations are still ongoing.
