21-Year-Old Fakes Own Kidnap, Collects ₦ 2 Million Ransom From Parents
The Anti-Cultism Tactical Squad, Enugu State Police Command, has arrested four male suspects for conspiracy, staged kidnapping, and defrauding the parents of a staged kidnapping victim of N2million.
The suspects included Chidera Godwin Ako, 21, who orchestrated his kidnapping; Okechukwu Philip Chidalu, 19; Ifeanyi Ugwu, 20; and Ossai Chigozie, 35, recently released from the Nigerian Correctional Service custodial centre.
They were arrested about 1 p.m on May 24, this year. with a local single-barrel gun and two live cartridges.
According to the spokesman of the state Police Command, Daniel Ndukwe, Chidera was reported missing on May 4.
“Subsequently, on May 21, 2025, his accomplices used his phone to demand a N10million ransom from his parents, sending a video of him bound, appearing beaten, with the recovered gun pointed at him.
“The parents pleaded for his release and paid N1.5million into a provided account, on May 22, but the suspects failed to release him. After an additional N500,000 payment, the police operatives swiftly arrested Chidera and his accomplices at a POS centre during an attempt to withdraw the funds.
“The suspects confessed to the crime and will be arraigned upon completion of investigations,” the police said.
Commissioner of Police, Mamman Bitrus Giwa, while describing the criminal act as unfortunate, has ordered further arrests of anyone linked to the crime.
He urged the public to report suspected kidnappings and avoid hasty ransom payments, emphasising that some cases might be staged.