Operatives of the Delta State Police Command have uncovered an alleged fake kidnapping involving a married woman identified as Oluchi, who was found in a hotel with her lover after reportedly staging her own abduction.
According to reports, Oluchi and her alleged accomplice demanded a ransom of ₦50 million from her family, claiming she had been kidnapped. The ransom demand was later reduced to ₦20 million as relatives appealed to the public for assistance.
Her children had initially reported that she was abducted in the Ikpoba Hill area of Ikpoba-Okha Local Government Area of Edo State.
However, police investigations reportedly led officers to a hotel in Ubiaroko, Delta State, where the woman was discovered with her lover.
A source familiar with the investigation said:
“Police traced the man’s phone number to a hotel in Ubiaroko, Delta State. They found both him and the woman there. Her husband was contacted and later informed of what had actually happened. The woman pleaded with her husband not to reveal the truth to their children.”
Daughter Reacts
Oluchi’s daughter, Anita, who lives in Canada, expressed disappointment after learning that the kidnapping was allegedly staged.
Speaking in an online video, she said:
“We were informed that my mother had been released. No ransom was paid, and the money raised remains intact. We will refund everyone who contributed.
We involved the police from the beginning, and we later discovered it was not a real kidnapping. We were told my mother was involved and had a relationship with the man. They had planned to collect the ₦20 million that had already been raised.”
Similar Incident
In a related case, the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Police Command previously arrested four individuals, including a man, his wife, his girlfriend, and her younger sister, over an alleged fake kidnapping scheme designed to extort ₦5 million from the girl’s father.
Police investigations revealed that the suspects staged the abduction and demanded ransom before the plot was uncovered.
Another Fake Kidnapping Case
In Lagos State, police also dismantled a staged kidnapping operation after a viral distress video sparked public concern.
Investigators later discovered that the alleged victim had conspired with four accomplices to extort money from his own mother. Authorities tracked the ransom payment through a Point of Sale (POS) transaction, leading to the arrest of all five suspects.
