The Niger State Police Command has arrested a 15-year-old boy who staged his own kidnapping in a bid to extort N200,000 from his father.
The spokesperson for the command, SP Wasiu Abiodun, who disclosed this in a statement on Monday, August, 2026 said the suspect, Kelvin Faga, was arrested alongside his 17-year-old accomplice, Mayowa Ojewuyi in Suleja.
According to the PPRO, the teenager disappeared after attending church on 20 July 2026 and failed to return home.
The following day, his family received a telephone call demanding a ransom of N200,000 and claiming the boy had been abducted.
Acting on the report made at B Division, Suleja, police detectives launched an investigation which led to tracing the missing teenager to a hotel in Suleja, where he was found in the company of Ojewuyi.
During interrogation, both suspects confessed that they planned to extort the sum of N200,000 from Kelvin’s father and share the proceeds between them.
“A report received at B Div Suleja indicated that on 21st July 2026, a complaint was made at the Division that one Kelvin Faga, 15yrs of Suleja went to church on 20th July 2026 and did not return home, but the following day, a call was received demanding for a ransom of N200,000 stating that the boy had been kidnapped,” the statement read.
“On receipt of the information, Police operatives of the Division commenced investigation and acting on credible intelligence, the said Kelvin was found at a hotel in Suleja on 25th July 2026 with his accomplice, one Mayowa Ojewuyi a.k.a Mayor, 17yrs of Suleja.
“During interrogation, the suspects confessed that they planned to extort the sum of N200,000 from Kelvin’s father after which they would share the proceeds of the crime.
“The suspects are in custody at SCID undergoing further investigation after which they will be charged to court accordingly.”