The Delta State Police command has arrested a suspected fake kidnapper and her accomplices. The spokesperson of the command, SP Bright Edafe, while confirming the arrest to newsmen, said on July 21, the command received a report of a kidnapping incident involving a female victim who was ‘’abducted’’ by unknown armed men in the Bonsaac area of Asaba.
Edafe said while acting promptly on the report, the Commissioner of Police, CP Olufemi Abaniwonda, directed the Commander Special Anti-Kidnapping and Cyber Crime Squad, CSP Godwin Osadolor, to ensure that the victim is rescued unhurt.
‘’Acting on this directive, the command led operatives and launched a coordinated intelligence-driven operation. Through diligent investigative efforts and strategic deployment, the operatives apprehended one Alfred Elisha ‘m’ at Koka Roundabout, Asaba, and another suspect, Ugochukwu Adim ‘m’, off DLA Road, Asaba, on 22 July 2025 at about 0900hrs.
Upon arrest of the suspects, he confessed that it was not a case of an actual kidnapping but a plot between the victim and himself.
His revelation led to the arrest of the other suspect, named Merit Eleh, aged 29 years old. She confessed that the money loaned to her by her brother of about three million six hundred thousand naira (#3,600,000), she used it to sponsor her bridal shower and hotel expenses during her wedding, which took place in March 2025.
She further stated that she faked her kidnap and received a ransom of three million naira (#3,000,000) and gave her accomplices five hundred thousand naira (#500,000), and she took two million, five hundred thousand naira (#2,5000,000) for herself.’’
Edafe added that all suspects involved have been arrested, and the investigation is ongoing.
