The Anambra State Police Command has arrested two individuals for allegedly staging a fake kidnapping with the intent to extort ₦10 million from the family of one of the suspects.
The suspects—28-year-old Chinecherem Okonkwo, a student of Enugu State University of Science and Technology, and 30-year-old Chinecherem Aronu—were apprehended at a lodge in the UNIZIK Temporary Site area of Awka.
Spokesperson of the Anambra Police Command, SP Tochukwu Ikenga, confirmed the arrest in a press statement released on Monday.
According to him, officers of the Rapid Response Squad tracked the suspects following a report of the alleged abduction of Okonkwo.
“Our operatives launched an intelligence-led operation after receiving a report that Chinecherem Nwaokoye, a female student, had gone missing on July 8 while returning from school.
Her phone was unreachable, and by the next day, an unknown male caller contacted the family to demand a ₦10 million ransom,” Ikenga said.
After negotiations, the demanded amount was reduced to ₦3 million, and the victim’s family reportedly transferred ₦1 million into her account.
It was at this point that the police swung into action and located her at the lodge, safe and in the company of her supposed kidnapper, Aronu.
“During interrogation, both suspects confessed that the abduction was staged,” Ikenga revealed. “The female suspect admitted that she masterminded the plot after watching a movie and intended to give the money to her partner to start a business.”
He further quoted the Commissioner of Police, CP Ikioye Orutugu, as expressing strong disapproval of the act.
“This case highlights the increasing moral decay among certain youths,” the CP said. “We will ensure the suspects face the full weight of the law. The Command will not tolerate such calculated criminal deception.”
The police boss also urged parents and guardians to be more vigilant and involved in their children’s lives, warning that youth misconduct fueled by peer pressure and social influence can easily spiral into crime.
