Police arrest two over alleged self-kidnap plot to extort N4m from family

The Edo State Police Command has arrested two men over an alleged plot to stage a fake kidnapping in a bid to extort N4 million from unsuspecting family members, in what authorities have described as a carefully orchestrated act of criminal deception.

The prime suspect, identified as 48-year-old Lucky Alabi, was arrested alongside his alleged accomplice, Taiye Enahoro, after police investigations revealed that the reported kidnapping had been fabricated to obtain ransom from Alabi’s relatives.

The command disclosed that the case was uncovered through intelligence gathering and painstaking investigations carried out by operatives of the Igarra Police Division.

According to the police, the incident began on June 23, 2026, when Enahoro allegedly made several telephone calls to members of Alabi’s family, informing them that the 48-year-old had been kidnapped and demanding a ransom of N4 million for his release.

Concerned by the calls, the family reportedly treated the matter as a genuine kidnapping case, prompting security agencies to commence investigations.

However, police operatives soon became suspicious of certain developments surrounding the alleged abduction and launched a comprehensive investigation, which eventually exposed the entire incident as a staged kidnapping.

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Confirming the arrest, the Police Public Relations Officer of the Edo State Command, ASP Eno Ikoedem, said officers acted on credible intelligence that pointed to inconsistencies in the reported abduction.

She explained that detectives employed intelligence-driven policing techniques and diligent investigative efforts, leading to the arrest of both suspects.

“Acting on credible intelligence and through diligent investigative efforts, police operatives uncovered the deception and successfully arrested both suspects,” the command stated.

According to the police, preliminary investigations revealed that both men actively participated in planning and executing the fake kidnapping in an attempt to fraudulently obtain money from Alabi’s relatives.

The command further disclosed that the suspects have confessed to their respective roles in the alleged conspiracy.

“The suspects have confessed to their respective roles in the staged kidnapping and will be charged to court upon conclusion of investigation,” the statement added.

The incident has drawn public attention because it differs significantly from the growing number of genuine kidnapping cases reported across Nigeria, where criminal gangs abduct victims and demand huge ransoms from their families.

In this instance, investigators alleged that the supposed victim was not only aware of the kidnapping claim but was directly involved in planning the scheme.

Security experts note that false kidnapping reports not only undermine public confidence but can also divert scarce security resources away from genuine emergencies, delaying responses to real kidnapping incidents where victims’ lives are at risk.

Reacting to the development, the Commissioner of Police in Edo State, Monday Agbonika, warned residents against engaging in any form of criminal deception, stressing that the command would not tolerate attempts to exploit public sympathy or abuse security resources for financial gain.

“The Edo State Police Command warns members of the public against engaging in any form of criminal deception, including staging kidnappings to extort money from unsuspecting relatives,” the Commissioner said.