A 23-year-old woman, Nmesoma Josephine Nwoye, has been arrested by the Anambra State Police Command for allegedly faking her own abduction to extort money from her parents. The young woman, from a yet undisclosed area, carried out the staged kidnap with the help of her boyfriend, 24-year-old Chibuike Ogbu.
The pair were arrested last Friday after an intelligence-led investigation by the police uncovered the elaborate plot. The authorities also recovered N1.2 million, which was part of the N3 million ransom that was paid to the suspects. The ransom was transferred to Nmesoma’s account after she and her boyfriend initially demanded a staggering N15 million from her parents.
According to police spokesperson, SP Tochukwu Ikenga, the investigation revealed that the couple had been in communication with Nmesoma’s family, claiming she had been abducted. The suspects sent threats to her parents and insisted that they pay a large ransom for her release. However, after some negotiation, the amount was lowered to N3 million, which was eventually paid.
“The operatives also recovered the sum of N1,200,000 (one million, two hundred thousand naira), being part of the ransom earlier paid by the girl’s family members,” Ikenga said in a statement. “Further information reveals that the suspects demanded N15,000,000 (fifteen million naira) ransom, and after negotiation, N3,000,000 (three million naira) was transferred into the victim’s account.”
In a disturbing twist, the plot was revealed to be entirely staged by Nmesoma and her boyfriend. After receiving the ransom, they went into hiding, but the police quickly tracked them down.
The suspects’ actions have sparked outrage and concern, particularly given the growing number of similar crimes across the country. Anambra State Commissioner of Police, Ikioye Orutugu, expressed alarm over the increasing number of young people getting involved in criminal activities for personal gain.
“This kind of criminality is a reflection of the moral decay we are facing in society today,” Ikioye said. “We are seeing more young people using deceit and desperation to exploit their own families.”
The police commissioner also called on parents, guardians, and religious leaders to take a more active role in teaching young people the importance of discipline and strong moral values. He stressed that parents need to invest more time in monitoring their children’s activities and ensuring they grow up with integrity and respect for others.
Nmesoma and Chibuike are currently in police custody, and investigations are ongoing. The police have not disclosed where the suspects were arrested, but their case is set to serve as a cautionary tale to the public about the dangers of financial desperation and the importance of vigilance within families.
This incident is part of a larger wave of similar crimes, with kidnappers targeting families for ransom. As Nigerians continue to face challenges of insecurity, cases like this highlight the lengths to which some individuals will go to exploit others for money.
Kidnapping for ransom has been a growing issue in Nigeria, particularly in regions like Anambra, where crime rates have been rising. Despite efforts by the police to combat this criminal activity, the lure of easy money continues to drive some people, including young adults, to resort to illegal methods.
