Rafiu Rahaman works with the Lagos State Waste Disposal Authority. He suddenly wanted to become rich overnight and his target sum was N5 million. He devised a simple foolproof scheme. He suddenly disappeared and travelled to Abuja.
From his new base an accomplice, Usman Sheidu, got in touch with his co-workers telling them that Rahaman had been kidnapped and N5 million would set him free. A video of him in captivity was made.
But before the two men could really cash out, the police unravelled their scheme and they were subsequently arrested after the duo had collected N150,000 ransom .
The Police Version :
“Detectives of the State Criminal Investigation Department, Lagos, have arrested one Rafiu Rahaman, an employee of the Lagos Waste Management Authority in Lagos for faking his kidnap.
Rahaman, after faking his kidnap, travelled to Lugbe, Abuja, where he made a video of himself in captivity, which was sent to his co-worker. His accomplice Usman Sheidu, who demanded N5 million ransom but got N150,000 after extensive negotiation has equally been arrested.
Investigation reveals that Usman Sheidu, who was arrested in Abuja, conspired with Rahaman to self-stage the kidnap and make the video that was sent to the co-workers for ransom.
Usman also confessed to have shared the ransom equally with Rahaman and used his share in acquiring a generator and other items for himself.
Suspects will be arraigned in court at the conclusion of the investigations. The Lagos State Commissioner of Police, Abiodun Alabi, while commending the detectives for a job well done, reassures Lagosians that perpetrators of crimes will not go undetected and unpunished.”
