- As the country battles a surge in abductions, a growing number of people are faking their kidnappings to extort ransom from their loved ones
- Benjamin Hundeyin, the police spokesperson, disclosed a 53-year-old man and his 48-year-old wife, were arrested following a self-kidnapping discovery
- TheRadar compiled cases of individuals who were involved in self-kidnapping for ransom
The headlines had long been filled with distressing news of kidnappings, but this alarming act of manipulation by some individuals staging their abductions to extract money from their loved ones is remarkably shocking.
Cases of individuals who staged their kidnapping
TheRadar compiled cases of individuals in Nigeria who were involved in self-kidnapping for ransom below:
1. Mr and Mrs Yabrifa
A 53-year-old husband, Doubara David Yabrifa, who is a technician and his 48-year-old wife, Regina, a bone setter and body massager, were detained following a kidnapping report made by a relative of the man.
Benjamin Hundeyin disclosed on Saturday, April 29, that the couple admitted to staging the kidnapping, aiming to collect N3 million to reclaim their home in Lagos's Badagry area.
Hundeyin said, “The man brought the idea and sold it to his wife. He did not deny it before the police.
“He said he did it through text message for a purpose. He said he did it because he wanted to re-buy his house back with N3 million.”
According to Hundeyin, police investigations revealed that the couple was still living in their Badagry home, with their children, despite sending text messages to their relatives about the supposed kidnapping.
2. Imaobong Sampson, and boyfriend Beltus Ebong
Waheed Ayilara, the Police Commissioner in Akwa Ibom, revealed on Friday, March 15, that a lady, Imaobong Sampson, from Nung Oku Village in the Ibesikpo Asutan Local Government Area had been arrested after faking her abduction with her boyfriend, Beltus Ebong.
He said, “A report was received on Monday from one Enobong Sampson that her sister had been kidnapped and that the kidnappers were demanding N4 million as ransom.
“As a result, operatives of anti-kidnapping squad of the command embarked on an intense and intelligence-driven operation to track down the kidnappers and rescue the victim.
“On Tuesday, however, the purported victim and her boyfriend were arrested at a hideout at Mbierebe Obio, Ibesikpo Asutan Local Government Area.
“She confessed to have conspired with her boyfriend and three others to proclaim her kidnap to raise money from her aunty based outside the country,’’ Ayilara stated.
3. Blessing Ogunu
Blessing Ogunu, a woman from Benin in Edo State, was arrested by police operatives on March 23, 2024, for allegedly masterminding her abduction.
Chidi Nwabuzor, the Command’s spokesman, stated that the suspect and two accomplices, Esther Anthony and Ukpebor Joel, were apprehended.
He said, “The Anti-Kidnapping and Cyber Crime Unit received a complaint from one Samuel Prince Omomuzo, of No 102 Ihama Road, GRA, Benin City who reported that one Blessing Ogunu, a staff of Bliss Legacy Limited, Benin City was kidnapped in Benin and the kidnappers demanded for four million, eight hundred thousand naira (N4,800,000.00) ransom.
“The operatives, using technical intelligence, arrested the supposed victim of the kidnap, one Blessing Ogunu, Esther Anthony and Ukpebor Joel.
“During interrogation, the supposed Blessing Ogunu confessed that she masterminded her self-kidnap because her company refused to allocate land to a customer whom they have received money from.”
4. 20-year-old Collins Ikwebe
Collins Ikwebe allegedly staged his abduction and demanded ransom from his father.
The state Police Public Relations Officer, Benjamin Hundeyin, reported the arrest of the suspects on Thursday, June 20.
The police reported that Collins, one male accomplice, and four female accomplices had been apprehended for their alleged involvement in the crime.
The 20-year-old faked his abduction while staying with the other suspects in a rented apartment in Lekki, Lagos, before their arrest.
Hundeyin said, “Following a report from his family, our investigation established that 20-year-old Collins Oluchukwu Ikwebe faked his kidnapping. His dad received several calls from Collins’ number but with different voices giving instructions on what amount of money to be paid and methods of payment.
“At different times spanning two weeks, different sums —$500,000, $200,000, N2,000,000, N50,000, and N30,000— were requested from Collins’ dad.
“On Thursday, June 20, 2024, detectives of the Lagos State Police Command eventually busted a short-let four-bedroom apartment in Lekki where Collins and five of his schoolmates (one male, four females) had been staying for the past 10 days.”
5. Secondary school girls
Two secondary school girls, 13 and 15 years old and in JSS1 and JSS3, were apprehended for purportedly faking their kidnapping and seeking ransom from their mother.
The suspects were paraded by the Ondo State Security Network Agency, known as the Amotekun Corps, at their headquarters in Akure, the state capital.
State Commander Adetunji Adeleye revealed that the suspects hid in Oka-Akoko within the Akoko South-West Local Government Area and pretended to be kidnappers who contacted their mother to demand N100,000.
The head of Amotekun stated that the suspects were arrested with the assistance of Department of State Services operatives, who tracked the phone line used by the girls to their hiding place.
The 13-year-old girl claimed that her older sister lured her to the crime.
She said, “On that day, my sister and I spent the night in our grandma’s place and left there around 6 am the following day.
“While on our way back home, my sister told me that she had a plan to get money from our mother.
“She then revealed her plan to declare ourselves kidnapped and asked for N50,000 each ransom from our mother. It was my sister who taught me what to say when she put a call through to my mother.
“When we called, we didn’t know that it was the monarch that was speaking with us on the telephone when we threatened to kill our victims in captivity if they failed to pay the ransom quickly.”
Gunmen abduct medical students in Benue, others
Meanwhile, TheRadar earlier reported that Gunmen abducted over 20 medical and dental students, a house officer in the Otukpo area of Benue State.
The victims, reportedly students of the University of Maiduguri and the University of Jos, were travelling as a group, heading to Enugu for the Federation of Catholic Medical and Dental Students (FECAMDS) annual convention when they were ambushed at around 5:30 p.m. in the Otukpo area.