A 31-year-old Nigerian man has been arrested for allegedly plotting to kidnap his aunt, the woman who raised him for a decade, police said on Saturday.
The suspect, identified as Chukwemeka Destiny, was apprehended by operatives of the Delta State PoliceCommand after he paid ₦900,000 to individuals he believed were kidnappers, according to police spokesperson Bright Edafe.
Edafe said the payments were made in two instalments an initial ₦200,000 deposit followed by ₦700,000 as part of a plan to abduct the woman who had cared for Destiny from the age of five until he turned 15.
“Unknown to him, the people he contacted were not kidnappers,” Edafe said. “They used him as bait, lured him in and handed him over to the police, thereby saving the life of his aunt.”
According to police, Destiny had lived with his aunt throughout his formative years but later left the household and reportedly cut off contact with the family.
“All of a sudden, something came to his mind that he should kidnap his aunt who trained him and saw him through school,” Edafe said, describing the case as part of a disturbing pattern of violence against benefactors
When questioned, Destiny admitted his involvement but said he could not explain his motive.
“Sincerely speaking, I am guilty of what happened. I don’t know what came over me,” he said, adding that the money used for the plot came from his haulage and building materials business.
The aunt, who is the elder sister of Destiny’s mother, said she was shocked upon learning of the plan and struggled to contain her emotions.
“I was shocked, crying,” she said. Asked whether she would prefer leniency, she insisted that authorities should allow the law to take its course.
Police said the suspect is currently in custody and investigations are ongoing.
