The Edo State Police Command has uncovered an elaborate kidnapping scam allegedly masterminded by a woman who faked her own abduction in a bid to extort N50 million from her family, leading to the arrest of four suspects and the recovery of a firearm used in recording ransom videos.
Police said the investigation began after Mr. Tony Ugbowan of Agbor Road, Benin City, reported on June 1 that his wife, Mrs. Oluchi Ugbowan, 45, had been kidnapped while on her way to her shop at Ramat Park along Agbor Road.
According to the report, Ugbowan told police that he received a call on May 28 from an unknown number, with the caller demanding N50 million ransom for his wife’s release.
Following the complaint, operatives of the Command’s Anti-Kidnapping Unit launched an intelligence-led investigation, deploying both technical and covert resources to unravel the circumstances surrounding the alleged abduction.
The investigation led to the arrest of one Israel Ability, 28, at Ramat Park in Benin City. Police recovered the missing woman’s mobile phone from him during the operation.
During interrogation, the suspect allegedly confessed that he had been contracted by Mrs. Ugbowan to negotiate ransom demands with her family while presenting her as a kidnap victim.
Acting on the information, detectives traced Mrs. Ugbowan to a hotel in Ukwuani Local Government Area of Delta State, where she was arrested on June 5.
Police said she confessed to staging her own kidnapping and subsequently led investigators to the residence of one Ochukwudem Uwadia, 38, also in Delta State.
Further investigation revealed that the residence was used to record videos showing the purported victim with her hands and legs tied, which were then sent to family members as evidence of her captivity.
According to the police, Uwadia’s 18-year-old son, Chibuzor Ochukwudem, was identified as the individual seen in the videos pointing a firearm at Mrs. Ugbowan’s head in an attempt to make the kidnap story appear genuine.
All suspects linked to the conspiracy have been arrested, while a search of the premises led to the recovery of an automatic pump-action gun allegedly used during the production of the ransom videos.
Commending the operatives for their professionalism and diligence, the Commissioner of Police in Edo State, Monday Agbonika, said the Command remains committed to treating all reported kidnapping cases with utmost seriousness.
He warned that false kidnapping schemes constitute serious criminal offences and divert critical security resources away from genuine victims of crime.
Agbonika also urged members of the public to promptly report suspicious incidents to law enforcement agencies and refrain from actions capable of creating unnecessary fear and panic within communities.
The police said investigations into the case have been concluded and the suspects will be charged to court accordingly.
