Operatives of Ogun Police Command have arrested a 23-year-old boy, Edward Okache, who allegedly faked his own kidnap and demanded N10m as ransom from his parents.
He was arrested alongside four others – Asamoah Ernest, Isiah Uti, Ephraim Anyijor and Charity Lukpata.
The Police Spokesman, Abimbola Oyeyemi, disclosed this in Abeokuta, on Wednesday. He said the suspects were arrested following a report lodged at Mowe divisional headquarters by one Comfort Okache.
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According to him, the complainant told the police that his younger brother who travelled from Calabar to Lagos was kidnapped around Mowe area of Ogun state, with the kidnappers demanding N10m ransom.
Oyeyemi said following the report, the DPO Mowe division, SP Folake Afeniforo, mobilized the division’s tactical teams and moved to the area.
The Police Spokesman said after combing the surrounding bush, Orimerunmu area, the victim was sighted in an abandoned building with the duo of Asamoah Ernest, a Ghanaian, and Isiah Uti, where his hands and legs were tied.
He said the two suspects found with him were arrested, while the victim was rescued.
“On getting to the station, the two arrested suspects made a shocking revelation that the so-called victim was the person who planned with them to kidnap him in order for him to extort money from his parents to invest in an online business,” Oyeyemi said.
“They stated further that the so-called victim was introduced to them by Ephraim Anyijor and Charity Lukpata who are from the same Yala local government area of Cross River State as the victim, and that they all are all part of the planned kidnap of Edward Ochace.
“Their confession led to the arrest of Ephraim Anyijor and Charity Lukpata. They have all confessed to the commission of the crime,” he noted.
Oyeyemi quoted the Commissioner of Police, Lanre Bankole, to have directed that the suspects be transferred to anti-kidnapping unit of the state Criminal Investigation Departments for further investigation and possible prosecution.
