Police Arrest Make-up Artist, 3 Others For Faking Kidnap, Demanding N5m Ransom In Lagos

Detectives of the Lagos State Police Command have arrested a professional make-up artist, Margret Itodo, 25; Agnes Ogbeh, 23; Esther Anyanwu, 24, and Anthony Chinakwe, 24, for organising and faking the kidnap of one of them, Agnes Ogbeh.

According to the Spokesperson of the Lagos State Police Command, SP Benjamin Hundeyin, on March 19, 2024, Agnes Ogbeh, a resident of Akure, Ondo State, had travelled to Lagos and was reportedly kidnapped while in Lagos.

SP Hundeyin, who took to his X handle (formerly Twitter) on Friday to disclose the development, wrote: “The family back in Akure received a video showing Agnes and one other tied, gagged, and groaning with blood droplets around them. The ‘kidnappers’ demanded the sum of Five Million Naira for the release of Agnes.

“Upon receipt of the complaint, detectives of the Command commenced a discreet and diligent investigation into the matter. The hideout was located where Agnes, the other lady in the video and two others were found living freely together.

“Further investigations revealed that Margaret Itodo is a professional make-up artist who was hired to make the video look real. All four have made confessional statements and are to be arraigned at the conclusion of investigation.”

The Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO) added that the Commissioner of Police, Lagos State Command, CP Adegoke Fayoade, while commending the detectives for a timely investigation, called on Lagosians to be vigilant and report any suspicious activity around them to the nearest security agency