Undergraduate kidnaps self, demands N50m ransom from father

A 400-level student of Delta State University, Nelson Eserada has been arrested for plotting his kidnapping with one Jerry Lawrence for extorting N50 million in bitcoins from his father.

Eserada and Lawrence were arrested last Monday in Abraka, Ethiope East Local Government Area of the state following a report by his father that his son had been abducted and was being tortured by his abductors, spokesperson for Delta Police Command, SP Bright Edafe told journalists on Thursday in Warri.

Edafe said that Eserada and Lawrence were arrested following an intelligence-led investigation by the Divisional Police Officer (DPO), Abraka division, SP Fabian Ayameh.

He said that the father of the suspected self-kidnapper had lodged a complaint at the Abraka division regarding the kidnap of his son.

According to him, the complainant also said that the abductors were demanding a ransom of N50 million in Bitcoin.

He said that the complainant also sent to the police a video of his son tied and being tortured.

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“Following complaints received from the father of one Nelson Eserada at Abraka Division, that his son was kidnapped and that the kidnappers were demanding a ransom of N50 million in Bitcoin, the DPO Ayameh swiftly embarked on a technical intelligence-led investigation.

“On June 10, 2024, one Jerry Lawrence was arrested in connection with the crime,” he said.

Edafe said that preliminary investigation revealed that Lawrence allegedly conspired with the suspected self-kidnapper to commit the crime.

He said that the supposed kidnap victim was a 400 level student of the Delta University (DELSU), Abraka.

The police spokesman said that the father of the suspected self-kidnapper had already paid a sum of N5.2 million ransom through a Bitcoin account belonging to Lawrence.

He said that the suspects were in police custody adding that investigation in the matter was ongoing.