How I bought a SIM card that kidnappers used to collect a N50m ransom and kill their victim; I ended up in prison.

 

Is it possible for someone to buy a "criminal" SIM card? Ms. Titilayo Ibrahim, who narrowly escaped trouble with the police over allegations of murder and kidnapping, explains her ordeal at the hands of the police regarding the unknown charges. Here is a detailed summary of the account shared by Ms. Titilayo regarding her ordeal:

The Incident occurred in October 16th, 2025. Titilayo Ibrahim, a businesswoman and then NYSC Corps member serving in Akure, narrated that a woman contacted her business line to purchase nightwear (pajamas). The caller claimed she was using her husband's phone because hers was faulty. They agreed on a meetup location at Titilayo’s estate junction for the delivery.

Upon arriving, instead of a customer, she met two men who identified themselves as police officers from the Force Investigation Department (FID), Abuja. They immediately arrested her.

The officers informed her that a SIM card linked to her National Identification Number (NIN) had been used in a major criminal operation. Specifically, Kidnapping and Murder. The SIM was used to negotiate and collect a ₦50 million ransom. Despite the ransom being paid, the victim was still killed.

The police stated the crime occurred in January 2024, but Titilayo insisted she only purchased and registered the SIM in April 2025 and she used the SIM card solely for her MiFi device. Despite her explanations, she was taken to the State Criminal Investigation and Intelligence Department (SCIID).

They threatened her of being moved to Abuja for further interrogation and she was later detained overnight in Akure

The matter was eventually clarified when they visited the network provider's office (Airtel). The official records confirmed that the SIM was indeed sold and registered to her in April 2025, proving she could not have been in possession of the number when the crime took place in early 2024.

Key Take Aware From The Story

Titilayo shared her story to warn the public about the dangers of buying a recycled SIM. Network providers often recycle numbers that have been inactive for a long time. If a criminal previously used that number, the new user or owner might be tracked for the old crimes.

She further urged the public to desist from buying "ready-to-use" SIM cards from the roadside and to ensure every number linked to their NIN is the one they can  personally identify.

Source:  BBC News Yoruba via their official Facebook platform.