Man Kidnaps Self, Demands N2million Ransom From Brothers

The police in Enugu State have arrested one Samuel Ani after he allegedly “kidnapped himself” and demanded N2 million ransom from his brothers.

Samuel saw his own kidnap as the quickest way of getting financial assistance from his brothers, who he labeled “stingy fellows”.


However, it has ended up badly for the coffin dealer, an indigene of Ugwuaji, Enugu South Local Government Area.

It was gathered that he faked kidnap and hid himself for six days at a bush behind his shop situated at Gariki axis of Awkunanaw also in Enugu South, from where he was making telephone calls to his two younger brothers in a very convincing tone that he had been abducted and that the sum of N2 million was required to get him out of the purported kidnappers den, else he would be killed.

The spokesman of the police in Enugu State, Ebere Amaraizu, DSP, who confirmed the incident disclosed that the case was reported to the State Police Command, which mobilized its anti- kidnapping unit.

According to him, “when Samuel intensified his call that the purported kidnappers were on the verge of killing him if his people cannot bring the money, which was later reduced to N1.2m, some amount of money was sent across to the account number provided by the purported kidnappers and a certain girl who went to cash the sum of initial N100, 000 sent into the account in one of the new generation banks located around Agbani road axis on 29/8/13, was tracked and picked by the operatives.

Sam and Oluchi

“Her revelation led to the arrest of Samuel who disclosed that he was not kidnapped but that he kidnapped himself so that his wealthy younger brothers can pay money for ransom which he will use to sort out his business dealings”

The girl was identified as one Oluchi Faith Ogbu from Akpugo in Nkanu West Local Government Area of the state and a fiancee to Samuel Ani.

“When interrogated, Oluchi Faith Ogbu said that the account belongs to her but was instructed by Samuel to supply the account number so that his brothers can pay the ransom via the account and that she was to cash it as soon as she receives alert of the payment and bring it to him.”

The police spokesman said Oluchi’s confession, however, led to the arrest of Samuel, who said he was not kidnapped but maintained that he kidnapped himself so that his wealthy younger brothers could pay ransom which he would use to sort out his business dealings.

He said apart from the trick he adopted, nothing would make his brothers give him any monetary assistance even though he regretted his actions.

Ani admitted that the step he took was not good in the sight of God, man or law and pleaded for forgiveness.

He said he is a father of five children but never revealed to Oluchi that he was married as he had promised to marry her.