The Niger State Police Command has detained two suspects, including the supposed victim, over a staged kidnapping plot designed to extort a N50 million ransom. The incident, which was reported from Karshi, Abuja, was exposed by police after a detailed investigation, according to a statement by SP Wasiu Abiodun, the command’s public relations officer.
The plot began on July 31 when the mother of an 18-year-old student from the College of Health in Kwamba, Suleja, received a distress call claiming her son had been abducted. The suspects demanded a hefty ransom of N50 million for his release.
Further investigation by police led to the arrest of the student and his accomplice, who confessed to having faked the abduction. Police efforts are now focused on apprehending a third suspect, who allegedly assisted in providing a hideout for the pair, as law enforcement continues to crack down on such criminal hoaxes that divert vital resources from genuine emergencies
During a preliminary investigation, one 22-year-old man of Gidan-Mangoro, Karshi, Abuja, who was the last person seen with the kidnapped victim, was arrested.
” The suspect, a former student of the same school, was interrogated, and the next day, police tracked the victim to Zuba Motor Park, Abuja, where he was rescued at about 4 a.m.
“During interrogation, the victim confessed that he conspired with the suspect to stage his own kidnapping to extort money from his mother,” Abiodun said.
He explained that the suspect had also contacted his brother in Kaduna State, who provided them with accommodation in Karji Village, Sabon-Tasha, Kaduna, for six days.
“The supposed victim reportedly decided to return from Kaduna after the ransom was not forthcoming.
Abiodun said efforts were ongoing to arrest the suspect’s brother, who provided them with accommodation.
In a separate incident, Abiodun said police operatives had arrested a suspected cable vandal in Lambata, Gurara Local Government Area of Niger.
Abiodun said that on Aug. 9, at about 7:30 a.m., a police patrol team from Gawu-Babangida Division, in collaboration with vigilantes, intercepted the suspect from Danbitsho, Lambata Village, along the Lambata–Minna road.
The suspected vandal was reportedly found in possession of vandalized electric cables concealed in two sacks near Dagigbe Village.
“He was arrested, and the recovered items were taken into custody.”
Abiodun added that the investigation was ongoing and the suspect would be prosecuted upon conclusion of the case
