Police arrest man for ‘faking his own abduction to demand N1.5m ransom’ in Ondo

The police command in Ondo says its operatives have arrested a man and two accomplices over an alleged plot to stage his own kidnapping for ransom.

In a statement on Thursday, Ayanlade Olushola, police spokesperson in Ondo, said the suspects are Tobi Oluwatuyi, a 22-year-old truck driver; Jubril Abu, 20; and Segun Oluwatuyi, 21.

Olushola said the police were informed about the case when a “concerned citizen” reported that Oluwatuyi was kidnapped in the Ilu Abo area of Akure, the Ondo state capital.

The police spokesperson said following the report, the special anti-kidnapping squad commenced an investigation into the matter.

“As the inquiry progressed, preliminary findings revealed a startling twist: the supposed victim, Tobi Oluwatuyi, had deliberately staged his own kidnapping in conspiracy with Jubril Abu ‘m’, aged 20, and Segun Oluwatuyi ‘m’, aged 21,” the statement reads.

“Their intention was to extort a ransom of N1,500,000, which the victim’s unsuspecting family eventually paid, believing he had been genuinely abducted.

“Building on this discovery, further investigation confirmed that the entire incident was a calculated attempt by the trio to obtain money fraudulently.

“All suspects have since confessed to their involvement in the crime, reinforcing the effectiveness of the command’s investigative approach.

“They will be charged to court at the conclusion of the ongoing investigation.

“Against this backdrop, the commissioner of police further urges members of the public to promptly report incidents of this magnitude to the police and allow investigators to professionally handle such situations.

“He cautions against yielding to ransom demands in kidnap-related cases, noting that such actions inadvertently encourage criminal enterprises and undermine ongoing security efforts.”