The Delta State Police Command has arrested a 22-year-old man for allegedly staging his own kidnapping in a bid to extort N25 million from his family.
The Commissioner of Police, Delta State Command, CP Yemi Oyeniyi, confirmed the arrest during a press briefing on Saturday in Asaba, where he said the suspect deliberately orchestrated the fake abduction to defraud his relatives.
According to the Commissioner, the suspect allegedly planned the scheme and demanded ransom from his family, claiming he had been kidnapped by unknown assailants.
CP Oyeniyi explained that the case began to raise suspicion after detectives noticed inconsistencies in the reported kidnapping, prompting a detailed investigation into the circumstances surrounding the incident.
He said operatives of the Command tracked and arrested the suspect after intelligence-led investigations established that the abduction was staged.
The police boss added that preliminary findings indicated the suspect acted alone in executing the plot, which was aimed at obtaining a large sum of money from his family.
He further stated that the Command remains committed to tackling all forms of kidnapping, extortion and related crimes, warning that staged kidnapping cases will be thoroughly investigated and prosecuted.
The Commissioner assured that the suspect would be charged to court upon the conclusion of investigations.
