Benin City, Edo State – The Edo State Police Command has arrested a woman and three alleged accomplices for orchestrating a fake kidnapping in a bid to extort N50 million from her own family.
According to a statement released by the command’s Public Relations Officer, SP Chidi Nwabuzor, the suspect, identified as 32-year-old Ese Angela Okoro, conspired with three others to stage her abduction after falling into severe financial distress.
The incident was reported to the police on May 20, 2025, by the victim’s husband, Mr. Godwin Okoro. He told officers that he received a frantic phone call from an unknown number, with a voice claiming to be his wife pleading for help. The alleged kidnappers subsequently demanded a ransom of N50 million, threatening to kill her if the money was not paid within 48 hours.
Fearing for his wife’s life, Mr. Okoro involved the police. Detectives from the Anti-Kidnapping and Cyber Crime Unit of the Edo Command immediately launched a technical investigation, tracing phone communications and monitoring financial transactions.
Their efforts led them to a hotel in the Ugbowo area of Benin City, where Ese and her accomplices were found relaxing, with no signs of captivity. Items recovered at the scene included rope used to stage restraint, two mobile phones, and a draft of the ransom demand note.
During interrogation, Ese reportedly confessed that she orchestrated the plan after accumulating significant debt from a failed business venture. She admitted that she intended to share the N50 million ransom with her accomplices — two men and another woman — who posed as her captors.
“The suspect claimed she never intended for anyone to get hurt and only wanted the money to settle her debts,” SP Nwabuzor stated. “However, staging a crime of this nature is a serious offense. She and her accomplices will face charges for conspiracy, false alarm, and attempting to obtain money under false pretenses.”
The three other suspects were named as Friday Ojo (29), Joy Adole (27), and Okezie Mmadu (34). They are currently in police custody and will be arraigned in court upon the conclusion of the investigation.
The Commissioner of Police, Edo State Command, CP Funsho Adegboye, used the opportunity to warn residents against fabricating crimes for financial gain. “The resources used to investigate this fake kidnapping could have been deployed to save a real victim in distress. We will not hesitate to prosecute anyone found guilty of such acts,” he said.
The case has sparked discussions on social media in Benin City, with many condemning the suspect’s desperation while expressing relief that no actual violence occurred.
For more updates on this story and other breaking news in Edo State, stay tuned.
Tags:
News