NIGERIA: Edo Police Bust Fake Kidnapping Syndicate, Arrest Woman, Three Others Over ₦50m Scam

By Ameenat Hamzat, Lagos, Nigeria

The Edo State Police Command has uncovered a staged kidnapping scheme involving four suspects who allegedly conspired to defraud a family of ₦50 million using a fabricated abduction plot.

The Command said the incident was reported on June 1, 2026, by Mr. Tony Ugbowan of Agbor Road, Benin City, who alleged that his wife, Mrs. Oluchi Ugbowan, was kidnapped while heading to her shop at Ramat Park.

According to the police, ransom demands were made shortly after the alleged abduction.

The statement reads: “He explained that on 28th May, 2026, he received a call from a concealed telephone number demanding a ransom of Fifty Million Naira (₦50,000,000) for her release.”

Following the report, operatives of the Anti-Kidnapping Unit of the Edo State Police Command (Edo State Police Command) launched a discreet investigation, deploying intelligence and technical resources to unravel the case.

The police said the breakthrough came with the arrest of a suspect, Israel Ability, aged 28, at Ramat Park, Benin City, where the victim’s mobile phone was recovered from him.

“Upon interrogation, the suspect confessed that he had been contracted by Mrs. Oluchi Ugbowan to negotiate ransom with her family while falsely presenting her as a kidnapped victim.”

Further investigation reportedly led operatives to a hotel in Ukwuani Local Government Area of Delta State, where Mrs. Oluchi Ugbowan was arrested.

During interrogation, she allegedly confessed to staging her own kidnapping and led investigators to another suspect, Ochukwudem Uwadia, in Delta State.

The statement further noted: “During interrogation, she confessed to staging her own kidnapping and thereafter led investigators to her accomplice.”

The police further revealed that the accomplice’s residence was used as the location where ransom videos were recorded and circulated to the victim’s family.

“The residence was used as the location where videos depicting the victim with tied hands and feet were recorded and circulated to family members as proof of captivity.”

Investigations also showed that Uwadia’s son, Chibuzor Ochukwudem, was involved in the video recordings and was seen pointing a firearm at the victim to make the staged kidnapping appear genuine.

A pump-action gun used in the recordings was recovered during a search operation.

“A search conducted at the premises led to the recovery of an automatic pump-action gun used in the ransom videos.”

The Commissioner of Police, CP Monday Agbonika, commended operatives for their professionalism and warned against false kidnapping reports, noting that such acts divert critical security resources from genuine cases.

• He stated that the Command treats all kidnapping reports with urgency and urged the public to desist from actions that could cause unnecessary panic or mislead law enforcement.

The police confirmed that all suspects are currently in custody as investigations continue.