The Delta State Police Command has arrested a 27-year-old woman, Merit Alice, for faking her own kidnapping after spending N3.6 million meant for a business deal on her bridal shower and hotel bookings for friends.
Police spokesman, SP Bright Edafe, confirmed the arrest in a statement posted on X. He said the incident happened on July 20, when Alice told her husband she was stepping out, only for her family to later receive a call claiming she had been kidnapped.
The “kidnappers” demanded N3 million ransom, which was paid by her husband and relatives.
Following an investigation by the Special Anti-Kidnapping and Cybercrime Squad, one of the accomplices was arrested and confessed to the fake kidnap. Alice later admitted to planning the act because her brother had been pressuring her to return the money he gave her to buy a tricycle for business.
Instead, she spent the N3.6 million on a lavish bridal shower and lodging for friends during her March wedding. She also withdrew N2.5 million through a POS agent and gave N500,000 to her accomplices. One of them, named Peter, is a former security guard at her workplace.
SP Edafe commended the officers for their swift action and assured that the command would continue to tackle crime across the state.