A 29-year-old housewife identified simply as Merit has been arrested by the Delta State Police Command for allegedly faking her own abduction in a bid to raise funds to repay a ₦3.6 million loan she diverted to sponsor her wedding.
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The suspect, who confessed to the crime during police interrogation, revealed that the money was originally loaned to her by her brother to purchase a commercial tricycle (keke). However, she used it to finance her bridal shower and hotel expenses during her wedding ceremony in March.
“I was just thinking of a way to raise the money, so I said I could plan that I was abducted,” she told investigators.
According to the State Police Public Relations Officer, SP Bright Edafe, Merit had informed her husband on July 20 that she was on her way home, only for him to later receive information that she had been kidnapped. A ransom demand followed, and the distraught husband paid ₦3 million to secure her release.
Unconvinced by the circumstances surrounding the incident, the husband reported the matter to the state’s Special Anti-Kidnapping and Cybercrime Squad. Following his complaint, the Commissioner of Police, CP Olufemi Abaniwonda, directed the squad commander, CSP Godwin Osadolor, to lead a full investigation and ensure the safe recovery of the victim.
SP Edafe disclosed that acting on credible intelligence, the police arrested one Alfred (surname withheld) at Koka Roundabout, Asaba, and another accomplice, Ugochukwu (surname withheld), at a location off DLA Road, Asaba, on July 22.
“Upon arrest, one of the suspects confessed that it was not a case of actual kidnapping but a plot between the victim and himself,” Edafe stated.
This confession led to the arrest of Merit, who admitted orchestrating the fake abduction to recoup the loan. She further confessed to receiving ₦3 million as ransom, giving ₦500,000 to her accomplices and keeping ₦2.5 million for herself.
“All suspects involved have been arrested, and the investigation is ongoing,” Edafe confirmed.
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