Student nabbed over kidnapping of teenagers in Ondo

Operatives of the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC), Ondo State Command, have arrested one Anthony Edum Oscar, a 21-year-old student at the University of Calabar, for alleged kidnap of teenagers in in the state for ransom.

In a statement on Tuesday, the Public Relations Officer of the NSCDC in the state, Daniel Aidamenbor, said Oscar was nabbed after he allegedly abducted a teenage girl identified as Araba Temitope while returning home from school.

He said the suspect demanded a ransom of N50,000 from the parents of the victim who was reported missing since January 24, 2024, while returning home from her school; Elibest College of Education, Oba Ile, Akure North.

Aidamenbor said a week after a missing person notice was published, Oscar called the parents claiming that their daughter was in his camp for rehabilitation and demanded N50,000.00 to be sent to a Moniepoint account and the girl would be released.

“A sting operation was initiated, and the parents were instructed to pay the said amount and the mobile number was tracked, leading to the arrest of the suspect on February 17, 2024, after a detailed forensic analysis,” he said.

He added that the suspect confessed to the allegations and admitted to receiving the sum of N50,000 ransom, but was yet to reveal the whereabouts of the victim.

He, however, noted that an investigation was still ongoing to unravel the location of the missing girl and with a view to arresting his accomplices.