Man arrested for faking own kidnap, collecting N50k ransom from family

The Ondo state police command says it has arrested a 33-year-old man for allegedly staging his own kidnapping and collecting ransom from his family.

In a statement issued on Saturday, Abayomi Jimoh, the police spokesperson in Ondo, said the suspect, identified as Olawale Sikiru, was arrested alongside his alleged accomplice following an intelligence-led investigation.

Jimoh said the case was reported to the police on July 5 after Iyabo, the suspect’s mother, alleged that her son had been kidnapped while travelling to Igbara-Oke for work.

He said the family was contacted by the purported kidnappers, who demanded a ransom of N1 million.

The police spokesperson said detectives immediately launched an investigation, deploying intelligence assets and carrying out forensic analysis of the telephone number used to demand the ransom.

According to him, the investigation led to Sikiru’s arrest on July 7, where he was found to have orchestrated the alleged abduction.

Jimoh said the suspect succeeded in obtaining N50,000 from his family as part payment of the ransom before the plot was uncovered.

He added that further investigation led to the arrest of 23-year-old Agbelusi Ayomide, who allegedly conspired with Sikiru and sheltered him while the fake kidnapping was being carried out.

The police spokesperson said efforts are ongoing to arrest other suspected members of the syndicate, adding that the suspects will be charged to court after investigations are concluded.

Jimoh said Felix Ohagwu, the commissioner of police in Ondo, commended the anti-kidnapping unit for exposing the alleged scheme through an intelligence-driven investigation.

The commissioner warned members of the public against staging kidnappings or participating in criminal conspiracies, noting that such acts waste security resources, inflict emotional and financial hardship on victims’ families, and attract severe legal consequences.

The police command also urged residents to continue providing credible and timely information to support efforts to combat crime across the state.