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| The businesswoman. |
A Nigerian businesswoman has narrated how she narrowly escaped being jailed after she was unexpectedly linked to a kidnapping case involving a ₦50 million ransom.
In an interview with BBC Yoruba, shared on Facebook on
Monday, Titilayo Ibrahim recounted how what began as a routine order for
nightwear suddenly spiralled into a nightmare.
According to her, the incident began on October 16,
2025, when a supposed customer contacted her business line to buy nightwear.
The caller, a woman, selected two pieces and claimed she was using her
husband’s phone because hers was faulty. She later requested directions for
pickup, and Ibrahim sent her estate junction location.
However, upon meeting the customer, two men arrived,
identified themselves as police officers, and immediately arrested her,
accusing her of using a SIM card involved in a major kidnapping and murder
case.
“It happened that on October 16, 2025, a number texted
my business line asking for nightwear. She picked two and said she was using
her husband’s phone because hers was faulty. Later, they said they would come
pick it up, so I gave them my estate junction location,” she said in Yoruba.
Despite her attempts to explain that the SIM card was
newly purchased and used strictly for her MiFi device, the officers insisted
she had been under surveillance. They alleged the number was previously used to
demand a ₦50 million ransom before the victim was eventually killed.
“They claimed the line was used for kidnapping, ₦50m
ransom was collected, and the victim was still killed. I told them I bought the
SIM in April 2025, while the incident happened in January 2024.”
Even after visiting the network office, where records
confirmed she bought the SIM in April 2025, the officers allegedly persisted in
accusing her. Ibrahim said she was harassed and almost thrown into prison for a
crime she knew nothing about.
“Even after confirming it at the network office, they
still didn’t believe me. They harassed me and almost sent me to prison for what
I know nothing about,” she concluded.
The revelation has sparked strong reactions online,
with many Nigerians expressing shock and warning against purchasing
pre-registered SIM cards. Others expressed fear over how easily an innocent
person can become entangled in criminal investigations.
PUNCH had earlier reported in November 2025 how
Titilayo Ibrahim, who was a graduate serving in Akure, was arrested and taken
to the State Criminal Investigation and Intelligence Department over a number
linked to his NIN.
Providing further details about her ordeal, Ibrahim
explained that the officers, led by Inspector Dauda Adamu of FID Abuja, claimed
one of the phone numbers connected to her NIN was tied to the crime.
Recounting her ordeal, Ibrahim said, “The officers,
led by Inspector Dauda Adamu of the FID, Abuja, alleged that one of the phone
numbers connected to my National Identification Number was involved in the
crime.
“However, I had purchased my Airtel SIM on April 15,
2025, a fact later confirmed by Airtel’s official records. Despite this
evidence, I was threatened with being taken to Abuja and detained overnight in
Akure.
“On October 17, 2025, Airtel officially confirmed that
the disputed SIM was indeed bought and activated in April 2025, fully clearing
me. Yet, the police still took my phones to Abuja and instructed me to report
there.” (The PUNCH, excluding headline).
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