Delta police arrest housewife, two others over fake kidnap, N3m ransom fraud

The Delta State Police Command has confirmed the arrest of a housewife and two others in Asaba for allegedly staging her own abduction and fraudulently collecting N3 million as ransom from her family.

Police Public Relations Officer Superintendent Bright Edafe disclosed the case in an official statement issued on Monday, July 28, in Asaba. He said the woman worked with two accomplices to fake her kidnapping and extract the ransom.

According to the statement, the police were alerted on July 21 about the supposed abduction of a female resident in the Bonsaac area of Asaba by unidentified gunmen.

Following the report, the Delta State Commissioner of Police, CP Olufemi Abaniwonda, ordered the Commander of the Special Anti-Kidnapping and Cybercrime Squad (SAKCCS), CSP Godwin Osadolor, to lead an urgent rescue mission.

“Acting on the directive, operatives launched a coordinated, intelligence-led operation,” SP Edafe explained. 

“Through careful surveillance and tracking, officers arrested one suspect at Koka Roundabout and another at a location off DLA Road in Asaba on July 22.”

The investigation took a twist when one of the suspects confessed during interrogation that there had been no actual abduction. He claimed the supposed victim had masterminded the entire scheme and involved him in the plan.

This led to the arrest of the woman, who admitted to staging her own kidnap. According to her statement, she received N3 million from her family, gave N500,000 to her partners, and kept N2.5 million for herself.

“All suspects involved in the matter are in police custody,” Edafe confirmed, adding that a full investigation is underway to determine if other accomplices or related staged kidnappings exist.

The Delta State Police Command reaffirmed its commitment to tackling criminal conspiracies and fraudulent activities, cautioning that anyone caught engaging in such offences will face the full weight of the law.