The Anambra State Police Command has arrested a 23-year-old woman, Nmesoma Josephine Nwoye, for allegedly faking her own kidnap in order to extort money from her parents. She was arrested alongside her 24-year-old boyfriend, Chibuike Ogbu, who conspired with her to stage the abduction.
The spokesperson of the Command, SP Tochukwu Ikenga, confirmed the arrest in a statement on Friday. He said operatives acting on intelligence tracked and apprehended the duo after uncovering the plot. According to him, a total of N1.2 million was recovered from the suspects as part of the ransom already paid by the victim’s parents.
Ikenga explained that the suspects had initially demanded a ransom of N15 million before settling for N3 million, which was transferred into Nmesoma’s account. “Investigations revealed that the supposed victim conspired with her boyfriend to stage her abduction. The operatives also recovered the sum of N1.2 million as part of the ransom collected,” he said.
The Police described the act as disturbing, noting that such criminal ingenuity by young people is becoming worrisome. He assured that the suspects would be charged to court after investigations are concluded.
Anambra State Commissioner of Police, Ikioye Orutugu, condemned the act, describing it as another sign of moral decay in society. He expressed concern that many young Nigerians are increasingly embracing shortcuts and criminality for selfish gains. The CP called on parents, guardians, and religious leaders to step up their roles in mentoring youths, instilling discipline, and promoting values of integrity and hard work.
The arrest has sparked mixed reactions among residents, with many describing the incident as shocking. Some community leaders noted that staging a fake kidnap not only undermines public trust but also diverts security resources from tackling genuine threats.
Meanwhile, the Command reassured the public of its commitment to clamp down on all forms of criminality in the state, urging citizens to remain vigilant and report suspicious activities to security agencies.
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