The Anambra State Police Command has taken custody of a 38-year-old man who allegedly faked his own abduction in an attempt to extort money from his family.
The suspect was handed over to the police by personnel of the 302 Artillery Regiment of the Nigerian Army in Onitsha.
The development was confirmed by the Command’s Public Relations Officer, SP Tochukwu Ikenga, in a statement issued on Tuesday, in Awka.
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According to Ikenga, preliminary investigations revealed that the suspect staged the kidnapping on August 15, sending a text message to his family demanding a ransom of ₦20 million for his release.
“The suspect allegedly staged his own kidnapping to extort money from his family members,” SP Ikenga said.
“This type of fraudulent act puts unnecessary stress on families and wastes valuable police resources.”
He added that the police formally received the suspect from the army on September 15 for further investigation.
“We will ensure that all individuals involved in criminal schemes, even staged ones, face the full consequences of the law,” Ikenga stated.
Ikenga explained that the arrest followed a technology-driven intelligence operation that tracked the suspect to a hideout in Rivers State.
“Acting on intelligence, he was arrested in his hideout. The Command’s diligent investigation aims to ensure that justice is served,” he said.
This case comes shortly after the Anambra Police Command arrested two other suspects involved in a similar staged kidnapping.
The previous incident involved a 23-year-old woman, Nmesoma Nwoye, and her 24-year-old boyfriend, Chibuike Ogbu, who conspired to fake her abduction and extort N1.2 million from her family.
“The message to would-be fraudsters is clear: we will detect and prosecute every act of deception, no matter how clever it seems,” Ikenga warned.
The Anambra State Police reiterated its commitment to intelligence-led operations to curb fraud and protect citizens.
“We urge the public to remain vigilant and report suspicious activities to help us prevent similar crimes,” he concluded.
