Man from Edo State stages his own abduction, extorts N4m ransom from relatives

The Edo State Police Command has apprehended two individuals, Lucky Alabi and Taiye Enahoro, for their alleged involvement in a fake kidnapping scheme aimed at extorting N4 million from Alabi's family.

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Alabi, 48, and Enahoro, 37, both residents of Uneme Akpama Community, were taken into custody by operatives from the Igarra Division following an investigation guided by intelligence.

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ASP Eno Ikioedem, the Police Public Relations Officer, confirmed the arrest in a statement released on Sunday, revealing that the suspects were caught after detectives uncovered their alleged plot.

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According to the police, the scheme was carried out on June 23, when one of the suspects reportedly contacted Alabi's relatives and demanded a ransom in exchange for his supposed release.

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A statement from the police explained that on June 26, 2026, at approximately 10:30 hours, operatives from the Igarra Division arrested the two suspects for conspiring to stage the fake kidnapping of Lucky Alabi.

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The statement further detailed that the suspects' plan involved Taiye Enahoro making several phone calls to Alabi's relatives, falsely claiming that Alabi had been kidnapped and demanding N4 million as ransom for his release.

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Preliminary investigations revealed that the suspects had admitted to their roles in the staged kidnapping and would face prosecution after the investigation was concluded.

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The police statement noted that both suspects had confessed to their involvement in the alleged crime and would be charged to court upon completion of the investigation.

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CP Monday Agbonika, the Commissioner of Police in the state, warned the public against engaging in criminal deception, including staging kidnappings to extort money from unsuspecting relatives.

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The Commissioner of Police reiterated the command's commitment to ensuring that all individuals involved in criminal acts are brought to justice.

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The police urged residents to remain vigilant and security-conscious, and to cooperate with law enforcement agencies by promptly reporting suspicious activities.