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By John Ogunsemore
A Lagos-based housewife, Mrs. Misturah Bada, has been arrested for faking her own kidnapping and extorting N2.5 million from her South Africa-based husband.
In a Saturday statement, the Lagos State Police Command said the 26-year-old housewife and her 30-year-old accomplice, Adedamola Daniel were arrested over allegations of false kidnapping, conspiracy, and extortion.
The command spokesperson, SP Abimbola Adebisi said operatives of the command’s Special Squad arrested the suspects.
The statement reads, “On 24 November 2025 at about 2200 hours, the Command received a distress call from the husband, through one of the emergency numbers, reporting that his wife, Mrs. Misturah Bada, had allegedly been kidnapped by armed men who demanded a ransom of ₦10 million, later reduced to ₦3 million.
“A sum of ₦2.5 million was subsequently paid by the husband, Mr. Bada, an innocent Nigerian resident in South Africa, yet the supposed kidnappers refused to release the victim.
“Upon receipt of the complaint, human and technical assets of the Command Special Squad were immediately deployed to track the alleged kidnappers.
“The alleged victim, Mrs. Misturah Bada, was released and reunited with her family. After which she was invited and debriefed, during which she claimed that she was kidnapped by six armed men driving a silver Toyota Venza, taken to their stronghold, and dispossessed of her iPhone 12 Pro Max.
“She further stated that the ransom of ₦2.5 million was first paid into her bank account before being handed over to the kidnappers.”
Adebisi disclosed that further investigation uncovered inconsistencies in her claims.
“On 3 December 2025, operatives arrested Adedamola Daniel in the Ede area of Osun State. A SIM card used to register the WhatsApp account through which ransom negotiations were conducted was recovered from him.
“During interrogation, he confessed that the suspect Misturah Bada had requested the use of his SIM card to open the WhatsApp account used for the ransom negotiations and that he provided the OTP sent to his line, which enabled her to successfully operate the account.
“Following his confession, Mrs. Misturah Bada was confronted and she admitted to faking her own kidnapping in order to extort money from her husband, who resides in South Africa.
“Further investigation led to the recovery of the iPhone 12 Pro Max, which Mrs. Bada had earlier claimed was with the kidnappers.
“The phone was recovered from Yusuf Sodiq, aged 34, who admitted that he purchased the phone from her at the rate of ₦380,000, having been warned not to insert any SIM card into it at the time.”
The command spokesperson said investigation into the case is ongoing, adding that Misturah Bada and her accomplice, Adedamola Daniel, would be charged to court upon conclusion of investigation.
Meanwhile, the Commissioner of Police, Lagos State Police Command, CP Olohundare Jimoh, reiterated the command’s commitment to protecting lives and properties and warned members of the public against false reporting, criminal deception, and acts capable of diverting vital security resources.
