Anambra police arrest woman who staged own kidnap to extort parents

The Anambra State Police Command has arrested a 23-year-old woman, Nmesoma Josephine Nwoye, for allegedly faking her own abduction in a bid to extort money from her parents.

Nmesoma was apprehended alongside her 24-year-old boyfriend, Chibuike Ogbu, who allegedly conspired with her to execute the staged kidnapping.

Police operatives recovered N1.2 million, part of the ransom earlier paid by the victim’s unsuspecting parents.

In a statement released on Friday, the Command’s spokesperson, SP Tochukwu Ikenga, said the suspects initially demanded N15 million ransom from Nmesoma’s parents but later negotiated down to N3 million, which was transferred directly into her personal account.

Ikenga explained:

“The suspects identified as Nmesoma Josephine Nwoye, female, aged 23 years, and Chibuike Ogbu, male, aged 24 years, were arrested after intelligence-led operations uncovered that the supposed victim conspired with her boyfriend to stage her own abduction.

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The operatives also recovered the sum of N1,200,000, being part of the ransom earlier paid by the girl’s family members.”

Details of the exact location of the arrest, as well as the family’s place of origin, were not immediately disclosed by the police.

Anambra State Commissioner of Police, Ikioye Orutugu, condemned the act, describing it as a sign of growing moral decay among young people who are increasingly resorting to fraud and criminality for selfish gains.

He urged parents, guardians, and religious leaders to intensify efforts in instilling discipline, moral values, and integrity in the younger generation, stressing that the police will continue to clamp down on such criminal practices.