The Ondo state police command says it has arrested a 33-year-old man for allegedly staging his own kidnapping and collecting ransom from his family.
In a statement issued on Saturday, Abayomi Jimoh, the police
spokesperson in Ondo, said the suspect, identified as Olawale Sikiru, was
arrested alongside his alleged accomplice following an intelligence-led
investigation.
Jimoh said the case was reported to the police on July 5
after Iyabo, the suspect’s mother, alleged that her son had been kidnapped
while travelling to Igbara-Oke for work.
He said the family was contacted by the purported
kidnappers, who demanded a ransom of N1 million.
The police spokesperson said detectives immediately launched
an investigation, deploying intelligence assets and carrying out forensic
analysis of the telephone number used to demand the ransom.
According to him, the investigation led to Sikiru’s arrest
on July 7, where he was found to have orchestrated the alleged abduction.
Jimoh said the suspect succeeded in obtaining N50,000 from
his family as part payment of the ransom before the plot was uncovered.
He added that further investigation led to the arrest of
23-year-old Agbelusi Ayomide, who allegedly conspired with Sikiru and sheltered
him while the fake kidnapping was being carried out.
The police spokesperson said efforts are ongoing to arrest
other suspected members of the syndicate, adding that the suspects will be
charged to court after investigations are concluded.
Jimoh said Felix Ohagwu, the commissioner of police in Ondo,
commended the anti-kidnapping unit for exposing the alleged scheme through an
intelligence-driven investigation.
The commissioner warned members of the public against
staging kidnappings or participating in criminal conspiracies, noting that such
acts waste security resources, inflict emotional and financial hardship on
victims’ families, and attract severe legal consequences.
The police command also urged residents to continue
providing credible and timely information to support efforts to combat crime
across the state.
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