Police operatives of the FCT Command have arrested a pregnant woman after she faked her kidnap, with the husband paying the sum of N2 million ransom for her release.
However, since the husband already reported the kidnap to the Police, investigation later revealed that the pregnant woman connived with her boyfriend to perpetrate the act. She later gave N800,000 to the boyfriend as his share, while she took N1.2 million.
FCT Police Commissioner, Benneth Igweh, made this known at a briefing. He disclosed that N793,500 cash was later recovered from them after arrest.
He said: “On 11 March 2024 at about 7.40 p.m., one Chiedozie Ubah of Saburi II, Dei-dei, Abuja, reported at Gwagwa division that his pregnant wife Rosemary Ubah, left home to the hospital on the same date for a scan but did not return home.
“He later received a call through his wife’s phone number telling him that his wife had been kidnapped. And a demand for two million naira ransom before her release made.
“He transferred the sum into his wife’s account as instructed by the kidnapper.
“He later brought his wife to the station after her release.
“During interrogation, the wife freely confessed to have conspired with one man named Walter Ezeala, living in the same street with them at Saburi, to extort money from her husband.
“The said Walter was arrested and he confessed that his own share was N800,000. And the lady took N1,200,000.
“The N793,500 cash, two ATM cards and two android phones were recovered from them. Suspects will be charged to court soon.”
Disclosing another faked kidnap that involved one Pascal Akuh, CP Igweh said, “On 14 March 2024, at about 5.30 pm, one Akuh Chinemezeh reported at APO Divisional Headquarters that his younger brother one Pascal Akuh 28 years, called him saying he was arrested by Police and taken to SCID custody.
“On the strength of this, the police and suspect’s family went to SCID, IRT and FCID detention facilities, only to discover that he is not in any of the aforementioned facilities.
“With the help of a tracker using coordinates, the suspect’s vehicle was traced to an area in Wumba, Apo.
“Acting on this intelligence, the police operatives from Apo Division swiftly mobilised to the scene. They searched the entire axis and subsequently traced the suspect to a hotel in Lokogoma later in the night and arrested the suspect.
“During interrogation, he confessed that he only faked his kidnap to prank the lady he intended to marry to know if she really loves him. The suspect is to be arraigned in court soon.
Similarly, “On 17 March 2024 at about 2:30 p.m., a distress call was received by Mabushi Division from two victims; one Blessing Mafulul Damia and Haliru Zakari.
“They said some men in an unregistered Toyota Hilux trailed them while on their way home from H- Medix, Gwarimpa to Gishiri village.
“They robbed them of their valuables and attempted to kidnap them.
“Upon receipt of the information, police operatives of the division swung into action, trailed the vehicle and arrested two suspects namely; Gabriel David Elihu of Apo mechanic village and (a dismissed soldier from Gombe state) Alex Iorjaa of Gboko LGA of Benue state.
“A black-coloured Toyota Hilux with Reg No. NBB 03 AH (Nasarawa), a jackknife, and some military accoutrements were recovered from them. Suspects will be charged to court soon.
Speaking further CP Igweh urged residents of Abuja to be circumspect any time they hear of kidnapping.
He warned that it has emerged that most cases of kidnapping are being stage-managed to extort money from family members.
To guide against this trend, Igweh advised residents with alleged incidents of kidnapping to report to the Police before taking any action like payment of ransom, Vanguard reports.
