22-year-old Anambra woman arrested over self-kidnap, N3m ransom

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The Anambra State Police Command has arrested a 22-year-old woman, Blessing Nwachukwu, over an alleged case of conspiracy, fraud and self-kidnapping after her family paid N3m ransom.

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The suspect allegedly conspired with a female associate identified as Onyinye and another male accomplice, whose identity is yet to be established, to stage her own kidnapping and obtain money from her family.

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In a statement on Sunday, the spokesman for the state police command, SP Tochukwu Ikenga, stated that the suspect was arrested on Friday by operatives of the Rapid Response Squad, Awkuzu, following credible intelligence.

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Ikenga noted that the suspect was reportedly abducted along the Onitsha–Asaba Expressway on August 29, but despite her family’s payment of N3m ransom, she was allegedly not released, prompting further investigation.

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The statement partly read, “The suspect was arrested by operatives of the Rapid Response Squad, Awkuzu, following credible intelligence received in the course of an investigation into a reported kidnapping incident.

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“The lady was reportedly abducted along the Onitsha–Asaba Expressway on 29th August 2026. However, despite the payment of N3 million ransom by her family, she was allegedly not released, prompting further investigation by the Police.

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“Following sustained intelligence gathering and investigative efforts, Police operatives, in the afternoon of September 18, 2026, traced and located the alleged victim in a room in Asaba, Delta State, where she was recovered.

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“Preliminary findings from the investigation indicated that the lady allegedly conspired with a female associate identified as Onyinye, whose other names are yet to be established, and another male accomplice, whose identity is presently unknown, to stage her own kidnapping and obtain money from her family.”

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According to Ikenga, the suspect was assisting the police with useful information to establish the circumstances surrounding the incident and identify and apprehend her alleged accomplices.

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Meanwhile, the Commissioner of Police, Anambra State Command, CP Nnanna Ama, directed that the investigation be intensified to unravel the circumstances surrounding the incident and ensure that anyone found culpable is brought to justice in accordance with the law.

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