In a bizarre and deeply unsettling incident, the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Police Command has arrested two sisters and a married couple for orchestrating a fake kidnapping plot in Abuja aimed at extorting ₦5 million from the family’s patriarch.
According to a statement released on Tuesday by FCT Police spokesperson SP Josephine Adeh, the elaborate deception came to light after Mr. Innocent, a resident of Jikwoyi Phase II, reported that his 16-year-old daughter, Miss LeadWay Innocent, had gone missing.
“On July 30, 2025, at approximately 11:30 a.m., Mr. Innocent informed the Jikwoyi Police Division that his daughter, LeadWay, had left home on July 18 to sit for an examination at Government Secondary School, Karu, Abuja, and had not returned,” Adeh said.
Soon after her disappearance, Mr. Innocent received a distressing phone call from unidentified individuals demanding a ₦5 million ransom for her safe release.
The Divisional Police Officer (DPO) immediately launched a covert investigation, combining intelligence gathering with digital tracking. The phone number used to contact the father was traced to a location in Jikwoyi Phase II.
To the officers’ astonishment, LeadWay was found at the residence, sitting comfortably with Mrs. Tina Mayowa—wife of Mr. Mayowa Adedeji. The two were casually conversing and eating, showing no signs of distress or captivity.
Further investigation revealed a shocking betrayal: LeadWay’s older sister, Joy Innocent, had conspired with her boyfriend, Mr. Mayowa Adedeji, to stage the kidnapping in a calculated attempt to extort money from their unsuspecting father.
LeadWay was not only aware of the scheme but was an active participant, voluntarily staying hidden while their family believed she was in danger.
Meanwhile, Joy remained at home, pretending to be distraught and clueless—watching her parents suffer as they scrambled to raise the ransom.
“All four suspects—Joy Innocent, LeadWay Innocent, Mr. Mayowa Adedeji, and Mrs. Tina Mayowa—have been arrested and are currently in police custody. They have voluntarily confessed to the crime,” the statement read.
They will be charged in court upon the conclusion of the investigation.
Reacting to the incident, FCT Commissioner of Police, CP Ajao Saka Adewale, strongly condemned the act, describing it as a “heartless betrayal and a disturbing example of manipulation—especially given it occurred within a family.”
He urged parents and guardians to remain vigilant, to closely monitor their children’s emotional wellbeing and behavioral changes, and to foster open and honest communication at home.
“This case is a stark reminder of the urgent need for stronger family engagement and psychological support in our society,” the Commissioner added.
