The Edo State Police Command has arrested an 18-year-old woman, Obehi Odine, for allegedly staging her own abduction in a bid to extort ₦10 million, while 11 other suspects were also apprehended over their alleged involvement in a kidnapping syndicate in the state.
This was disclosed in a statement on Tuesday by the Command’s Public Relations Officer, ASP Eno Ikoedem, who said several dangerous exhibits, including firearms, were recovered during the operations.
According to the statement,
“A suspect, Obehi Odine ‘F’, aged 18, was arrested for staging her own kidnap and demanding a ransom of ₦10 million. She has confessed to the crime, admitting that the incident was deliberately fabricated to extort money.”
In a related development, the Command recorded another major breakthrough in Ubiaja through a coordinated bush-combing operation.
“The Divisional Police Officer, Ubiaja, personally led a coordinated bush-combing operation around Akwocha Camp and adjoining forest corridors, in collaboration with the Nigerian Military and the Edo State Security Corps (ESSC).
“A concealed forest enclave, identified by the drone squadron through intelligence generated from air surveillance as a suspected kidnapping and logistics base, was stormed.”
The operation led to the arrest of 11 male suspects believed to be members of an organised kidnapping syndicate.
Exhibits recovered included 24 dane guns, 17 cutlasses, three battle axes, gunpowder, torchlights, mobile phones, solar panels, assorted charms, one motorcycle and ₦209,700, among other items.
Meanwhile, the Commissioner of Police, Monday Agbonika, warned members of the public against filing false kidnapping reports or engaging in other deceptive acts.
He noted that such actions waste vital security resources, divert attention from genuine emergencies, create unnecessary panic and undermine public confidence, stressing that anyone caught would be prosecuted.
Agbonika reaffirmed the Command’s commitment to technology-driven policing, aggressive forest domination and intelligence-led operations to dismantle criminal networks across Edo State, while urging the public to continue to support the Police with timely and credible information.
Dip Connect Online News recalls that gunmen suspected to be kidnappers recently demanded ₦100 million for the release of eight Imoga indigenes abducted on Friday night.
The Okpahi of Imoga Kingdom, Oba Patrick Obajoye, disclosed that the victims were kidnapped at Star Boy Hotel on Imoga-Ibillo Road in Edo North. He said the victims had travelled to Ibillo for a function and lodged at the hotel when the kidnappers, dressed in army uniforms, arrived with drinks and pretended to be waiting for someone before striking.
Elijah Adeyemi
