crime

Kidnappers demand ₦500,000 ransom for abducted five-year-old girl in Lagos

Published

1 year ago

May 12, 2025

The family of five-year-old Memunah Abdulrahman, abducted in Ejigbo, Lagos, has been contacted by kidnappers demanding a ₦500,000 ransom for her release

The family of five-year-old Memunah Abdulrahman, who was abducted in the Ejigbo area of Lagos State on March 9, 2025, has received a ransom demand from her kidnappers.

Also read: Delta Police neutralize five suspected kidnappers, recover arms

The girl’s father, Abdurrahman Alimi, revealed in an interview that the abductors contacted the family last month (April), demanding ₦500,000 for Memunah’s safe return.

According to Alimi, the kidnappers called using a private number and instructed the family to pay the ransom. They reportedly hung up after making the demand and have not contacted the family since. Despite the lack of further communication, Alimi expressed his belief that his daughter is still alive.

Alimi stated that the family has informed the police about the ransom demand and were advised to ask the kidnappers to contact them via WhatsApp.

However, he expressed uncertainty about the progress of the police investigation, noting that it will soon be two months since Memunah’s abduction.

Recounting the events of March 9th, Alimi explained that Memunah was abducted while returning home from an Islamic school with her sister.

They hid their phone numbers and asked us to pay N500,000 before they would release my daughter. They hung up the phone and have not called back since then. I believe my daughter is still alive.

A suspect reportedly approached the two girls near a well-known supermarket in Ejigbo, lured them inside under the pretense of buying them items, and then vanished with Memunah, leaving her sister behind.

In an earlier report, the distraught father had made a public appeal for assistance in securing his daughter’s release. “We need help.

We are pleading with anyone who may recognise the suspect to come forward,” he pleaded. “Our daughter is only five years old, and we desperately need any assistance to bring her home.”

The spokesperson for the Lagos State Police Command, Benjamin Hundeyin, had previously confirmed that the Commissioner of Police, Owohunwa Jimoh, had directed the State Criminal Investigation Department (SCID) to take over the case.

While the family acknowledged that SCID operatives visited their community shortly after this directive, Alimi informed our correspondent that they have since received no updates on the investigation’s progress.

Related Topics:crime Ejigbo featured kidnapping Lagos State police investigation Ransom

Up Next

Lagos shuts down 35 supermarkets over expired goods

Don't Miss

NAFDAC shuts down illegal water factory in Nasarawa, arrests suspect

theheute

Click to comment

crime

Police Arrest Convicted Drug Dealer, Rescue 14-Year-Old Boy in Bauchi

Published

17 hours ago

October 27, 2026

Peculiar Adirika

Bauchi drug dealer arrest leads to the rescue of a 14-year-old boy allegedly used as a drug courier and the recovery of suspected illicit substances

The Bauchi State Police Command has arrested a 22-year-old convicted drug dealer and rescued a 14-year-old boy who was allegedly being used to deliver illicit drugs in the state.

Also read: NRS Assures Taxpayers VAT Remains at 7.5% Amid Tax Reform Concerns

The command said operatives of its Violent Crimes Response Unit intercepted the teenager during a routine patrol and recovered a granular whitish substance suspected to be methamphetamine.

The Police Public Relations Officer, SP Nafiu Habib, disclosed this in a statement issued on Tuesday.

According to Habib, the operatives, led by the unit’s officer-in-charge, intercepted the minor, identified as Samuel Nkemakolan Kosi, at about 11 am on October 26, 2026, while he was allegedly on his way to deliver the suspected drug, also known as Ice, to a customer.

The statement said the teenager told investigators that he had been sent by Samuel Ogochukwu, a 22-year-old convicted drug dealer, to make the delivery.

“Upon interrogation, the minor confessed that he was sent by one Samuel Ogochukwu, 22 years old, a convicted drug dealer, to make the delivery,” Habib said.

Following the information, detectives traced Ogochukwu to his location and arrested him.

A search of the suspect’s shop and residence reportedly led to the recovery of 3.5 grammes of a substance suspected to be methamphetamine, 17 sachets of 100mg tramadol capsules, five sachets of 300mg pregabalin capsules and seven sachets of diazepam.

The police also recovered 12 Exol tablets, two wraps of a substance known as Yellow Boys and one sachet of Shine Shine Leather.

Habib said the principal suspect told investigators that he received supplies of illicit drugs through waybills from Onitsha, Anambra State.

The police spokesman added that the 14-year-old had been handled in accordance with juvenile best practices and would be reunited with his family after counselling.

“The 14-year-old minor has been handled in line with juvenile best practices and will be reunited with his family after counselling, while the principal suspect will be charged to court upon completion of investigation,” the statement said.

The Commissioner of Police in Bauchi State, Sani-Omolori Aliyu, commended the operatives for their work and urged the public to remain alert to criminal activity.

According to Habib, the commissioner said four major drug busts and subsequent convictions recorded within 10 days demonstrated the command’s continued efforts to combat drug trafficking.