Men of Ogun State Police Command have arrested a 23-year-old man, Edward Okache, for faking his own kidnap and asking his gang to demand N10 million ransom from his family.
Okache reportedly contacted four others: Asamoah Ernest, Isiah Uti, Ephraim Anyijor and charity Lukpata to execute the fake kidnap with a view to getting N10m fund for an online business.
The Police Public Relations Officer in the state, Abimbola Oyeyemi, disclosed this on Wednesday in a statement.
The PPRO explained that the suspects were arrested following a report lodged at Mowe divisional headquarters by one Comfort Okache.
He said Okache reported through a phone call that his younger brother who traveled from Calabar to Lagos was kidnapped around Mowe area of Ogun state.
According to Oyeyemi, the complainant said that the kidnappers were demanding for N10 million ransom for the release of Edward.
He said, “Upon the report, the DPO Mowe division, SP Folake Afeniforo mobilised the division’s tactical teams and moved to the area.
“Upon painstaking and enduring combing of the surrounding bush at Orimerunmu area, the victim was sighted in an uncompleted building with the duo of Asamoah Ernest, a Ghanaian and Isiah Uti, where he was tied in both hands and legs.
“The two suspects found with him were promptly arrested, while the victim was rescued.
“But on getting to the station, the two arrested suspects made a shocking revelation that the so-called victim was the person who planned with them to kidnap him in order for him to extort money from his parents to invest in an online business.
“They stated further that the so-called victim was introduced to them by Ephraim Anyijor and Charity Lukpata who are from the same Yala Local Government Area of Cross River as the victim, and that they are all part of the planned kidnap of Edward Ochace.
“Their confession led to the arrest of Ephraim Anyijor and charity Lukpata. They have all confessed to the commission of the crime.”
Oyeyemi, however, said the Commissioner of Police, Lanre Bankole, has directed that the suspects be transferred to an anti-kidnapping unit of the state criminal Investigation Departments for further investigation and possible prosecution.
