A Lagos-based couple, identified simply as Fred and Goodness, have been arrested for allegedly staging their own kidnap and extorting N10m in ransom from their families and friends.

According to Punch Newspaper, the couple faked the abduction on January 7 to solicit funds for the husband, who intended to return to the United States due to a lack of financial support.

A police source who spoke to our correspondent on Thursday said the suspects contacted relatives on both sides of the family and claimed they had been kidnapped while demanding ransom.

The source added that the families raised N10m within three days, believing the money was meant to secure their release.

“The couple faked their kidnapping, thereby calling on friends and families for contributions towards the ransom payment. And what happened was, according to them, the husband wanted to travel back to the US, and he needed some money, but their sponsors were not forthcoming, so they planned it together that maybe by the time they do that, they’ll be able to raise some money.”

Speaking on their arrest, another police source in the command said the couple arranged a meeting at a school in Cappa, Mushin, Lagos, where the ransom was to be delivered.

“Operatives monitoring the area noticed the woman entering the premises alone, while the man arrived separately moments later. However, suspicion was raised when both suspects later emerged together carrying a bag.

“The operatives stopped them, searched the bag, and discovered the ransom money, prompting their immediate arrest. The wife said she was the one who encouraged the husband to make them plot the kidnap.”

The suspects were subsequently handed over to the police, where investigations confirmed that the incident was a case of self-kidnap.

The state Police Public Relations Officer, Abimbola Addebisi, confirmed the incident.

She said, “The couple will be charged to court upon the conclusion of investigations.”

The incident added to the growing number of self-orchestrated abduction cases uncovered by law enforcement.

Operatives of the Nigeria Police Force (NPF) have arrested six suspects for allegedly hacking into a telecommunication company in Nigeria to divert airtime and mobile data worth N7.7 billion.

A statement on Wednesday by Benjamin Hundeyin, the force spokesperson, said the suspects allegedly gained unlawful access to the telecommunications company’s core systems.

The suspects are Ahmad Bala, Karibu Mohammed Shehu, Umar Habib, Obinna Ananaba, Ibrahim Shehu, and Masa’ud Sa’ad.

Hundeyin said operatives recovered two mini plazas, retail outlets containing over 400 laptops, 1,000 mobile phones, and a Toyota vehicle.

The force spokesperson said a “substantial” amount of money was traced to the suspects’ bank accounts.

“The syndicate was responsible for the illegal diversion of a telecommunications company’s airtime and data resources, resulting in an estimated financial loss of over ₦7.7 billion,” the statement reads.

“The breakthrough followed a petition by a Nigerian telecommunications company, which reported suspicious and unauthorized activities within its billing and payments infrastructure.

“Investigations revealed that internal staff login credentials had been compromised, granting threat actors unlawful access to core systems.

“Following weeks of planning, coordinated enforcement operations were executed in October 2025 in Kano and Katsina States, with a follow-up arrest in the Federal Capital Territory.

“The suspects would be charged to court on the completion of the investigation.

“Meanwhile, the Inspector-General of Police, IGP Kayode Adeolu Egbetokun, Ph.D., NPM, has commended the officers involved in the investigation for their professionalism.”

The Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) has directed its affiliate unions in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) to continue the ongoing strike by workers of the FCT Administration, despite a court order directing that the industrial action be suspended.

The directive was contained in a circular dated January 27, 2026, and signed by Benson Upah, the acting general secretary of the NLC.

In the circular addressed to presidents and general secretaries of all Abuja-based unions, the NLC said it was “reaffirming and reinforcing” its earlier instructions for workers to sustain the strike action until their demands are fully met.

“We hereby reaffirm and reinforce the directive to all affiliate unions in the FCT to not only proceed with the ongoing action but to intensify and sustain it until all workers’ demands are fully addressed,” the circular reads.

The NLC noted that issues such as unpaid wage awards and promotion arrears, non-remittance of pension and National Housing Fund deductions, as well as alleged intimidation of workers, are yet to be resolved.

“These violations are grave, unacceptable, and incompatible with the principles of fairness, justice, and decent work,” the NLC said.

“Affiliate unions are therefore directed to fully maintain participation in the industrial action; reinforce mobilisation of members for all congress-approved activities; and mobilise members to continuously participate in daily prayer and solidarity sessions from 8:00 am to 5:00 pm at designated venues across the FCT.”

The NLC warned against any withdrawal from the strike at this stage, saying such action would embolden further violations against workers.

“This struggle demands unity, discipline, and unwavering commitment. All affiliates are expected to comply strictly with this directive in the collective interest of the Nigerian working class. An injury to one is an injury to all,” the circular reads.

On Tuesday, a national industrial court in Abuja ordered workers on the payroll of the FCTA to suspend the strike.

Delivering a ruling, Emmanuel Subilim, presiding judge, held that although the matter before the court amounted to a trade dispute, the defendants’ right to embark on industrial action was not absolute.

He held that once a dispute has been referred to the national industrial court, any ongoing strike must cease pending the determination of the case.