A 17-year-old girl in southwestern Nigeria who allegedly faked her own kidnap to demand a ransom from her mother has been arrested, police said on Sunday.

"The two lovers were arrested on Thursday following a report by the girl's mother that she had not been seen since June 1," said state police spokesperson Abimbola Oyeyemi.

He said the girl's mother got a call from someone two days later claiming to have kidnapped her and demanding 500 000 naira for her release.

"The caller also warned her against reporting the abduction to the police if she still needed her daughter," Oyeyemi said.

He said police detectives were able to trace the girl and her lover to their hideout.