Police in Edo have arrested two suspects over an alleged self-kidnap scheme designed to extort ₦4 million from family members. The suspects reportedly confessed and will be charged to court.
The Edo State Police Command has arrested two men for allegedly orchestrating a fake kidnapping to defraud the family of one of the suspects of ₦4 million in ransom.
The Command’s Public Relations Officer, ASP Eno Ikoedem, disclosed the arrests in a statement issued on Sunday in Benin City.
According to the police spokesperson, the suspects—Lucky Alabi, 48, and Taiye Enahoro, 37—are both residents of Uneme Akpama Community in Akoko-Edo Local Government Area of Edo State.
Ikoedem said operatives attached to the Igarra Police Division arrested the duo on June 26, 2026, following intelligence-led investigations into the alleged crime.
She explained that preliminary findings revealed the suspected self-kidnap plot was carried out on June 23, when Enahoro allegedly placed several telephone calls to Alabi’s relatives, falsely claiming that Alabi had been kidnapped and demanding ₦4 million for his release.
According to the statement, police investigators swiftly uncovered inconsistencies in the report through credible intelligence and painstaking investigation, leading to the arrest of both suspects.
“Acting on credible intelligence and through diligent investigative efforts, police operatives uncovered the deception and successfully arrested both suspects,” Ikoedem stated.
She added that both men had allegedly confessed to their respective roles in the planned deception during interrogation and would be charged to court upon the conclusion of investigations.
Reacting to the incident, the Commissioner of Police in Edo State, Mr. Monday Agbonika, warned members of the public against engaging in criminal acts such as staging kidnappings to extort money from unsuspecting relatives.
The police commissioner reiterated the Command’s determination to ensure that anyone involved in criminal activities is brought to justice, while urging residents to remain vigilant and promptly report suspicious activities to security agencies.
The latest arrest comes amid growing concerns over the misuse of kidnapping narratives for financial fraud, with security agencies warning that false kidnap reports divert critical resources away from tackling genuine security threats.SEO Tags
Self-Kidnap, Edo Police, Fake Kidnap, Ransom Scam, Edo Crime, Nigeria Police, Akoko-Edo, Crime News, Benin City, Security
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