The Edo State Police Command has arrested two men for allegedly conspiring to stage a fake kidnapping in a bid to extort N4 million from the family of one of the suspects.
The command said the suspects, identified as 48-year-old Lucky Alabi and 37-year-old Taiye Enahoro, both from Uneme Akpama Community in Igarra, were arrested by operatives of the Igarra Police Division on June 26 following intelligence-led investigations.
According to the police, the alleged scheme was carried out on June 23 when Enahoro reportedly made several phone calls to Alabi’s relatives, claiming that Alabi had been kidnapped and demanding a ransom of N4 million for his release.
The Police Public Relations Officer of the command, ASP Eno Ikoedem, said preliminary investigations revealed that the kidnapping was fabricated as part of a plan to deceive family members into paying the ransom.
“Acting on credible intelligence and through diligent investigative efforts, police operatives uncovered the deception and arrested the two suspects,” Ikoedem said.
She added that both men had admitted their involvement in the alleged crime during interrogation.
“The suspects have confessed to their respective roles in the staged kidnapping and will be charged to court upon the conclusion of the investigation,” she stated.
The Commissioner of Police in Edo State, CP Monday Agbonika, warned residents against engaging in any form of criminal deception, especially orchestrating fake kidnappings to obtain money from unsuspecting relatives.
He reiterated the command’s commitment to bringing offenders to justice and urged members of the public to promptly report suspicious activities to the police.
