Police nab man while picking N20m ransom in Lagos

The Lagos State Police Command has foiled an alleged N20 million extortion attempt.

The state Commissioner of Police, Mr Tijani Fatai, explained on Tuesday that the development followed a complained by the victim ay the Ojokoro Police Division in the Ojokoro Local Council Development Area.

He added that on March 27, 2026, operatives launched a decoy operation after receiving reports of threats to life and a ransom demand.

“Around 10.55pm, an 18-year-old suspect, identified as Israel Osanwuta, was arrested while attempting to collect the money. Recovered from him were an HP laptop and a flash drive,” the CP said.

According to him, the suspect confessed to the crime and also admitted involvement in a previous attempted burglary at a commercial bank.

The command also arrested 21 suspected cultists and recovered firearms and other incriminating items during a raid in Ajao Estate.

The command said the suspects were apprehended in the early hours of April 5, 2026, around 3am during a gathering at a hotel where they were celebrating the birthday of a notorious cult figure identified as “Actor,” who is currently at large.

Items recovered from the suspects include a locally made cut-to-size single-barrel gun, Aiye cult-branded envelopes and plastic bottles, a laptop, and 23 mobile phones.

Police said the suspects are in custody, while efforts are ongoing to apprehend the fleeing suspect.