A 22-year-old man has been arrested by the Delta State Police Command for allegedly staging his own kidnap in a bid to extort N25 million from his family after reportedly spending money entrusted to him by his sister.
The suspect, identified as Michael James, allegedly disappeared from home before his family received information that he had been kidnapped and that his captors were demanding a ransom of N25 million for his release.
The Delta State Commissioner of Police, CP Yemi Oyeniyi, disclosed the development during a press briefing in Asaba on Saturday, where he also announced the rescue of a two-week-old baby from suspected child traffickers and the arrest of two persons accused of spreading false information on social media.
The police commissioner said the command remained committed to intelligence-led policing and would continue to tackle criminal activities, including emerging threats such as misinformation and online falsehood.
According to Oyeniyi, Michael James left his family home on July 1 under the pretext of going to dispose of refuse.
When he failed to return home, his worried relatives searched for him without success before reporting his disappearance to the police.
Not long afterwards, the family allegedly received information that he had been kidnapped and that his abductors were demanding N25 million before he could be released.
Following the report, police operatives launched an investigation and deployed officers to the area while also relying on technical intelligence to track the suspect’s location.
The commissioner said the operation eventually led officers to a bush where they surrounded the area in anticipation of finding the kidnappers.
To the surprise of the officers, the suspect later emerged from the bush and claimed he had escaped from his captors.
His account, however, reportedly raised suspicion among investigators, who subjected him to further questioning.
According to the police commissioner, the suspect later confessed during interrogation that no kidnapping had taken place.
Instead, he allegedly admitted that he staged the entire incident after spending money that had been given to him by his sister.
The commissioner said the suspect had hoped that the ransom would enable him to replace the money he had already spent.
“He confessed that he arranged the fake kidnap because he had spent money entrusted to him by his sister and wanted to recover it through the ransom demand,” Oyeniyi said.
The suspect remains in police custody while investigations continue.
The commissioner warned families to remain alert, noting that some kidnapping cases reported to security agencies may actually involve relatives attempting to deceive family members for financial gain.
Kidnapping for ransom has become one of Nigeria’s major security challenges in recent years, with criminal gangs targeting travellers, farmers, students and residents in different parts of the country.
Apart from the fake kidnap case, the police commissioner also announced the rescue of a two-week-old baby boy from suspected child traffickers.
He said two women, identified as Evelyn Otubo and Esther Joseph, were arrested during the operation.
According to Oyeniyi, the baby’s mother told investigators that shortly after giving birth, she was approached by a woman identified only as “Mama.”
The woman allegedly told her that the newborn would be taken to an orphanage where he would receive proper care.
However, after the child was taken away, the mother reportedly became worried when she was denied access to her baby.
The development prompted her to report the matter to the police.
Investigations by detectives later led to the arrest of the two suspects, who were allegedly preparing to hand the baby over to an intending buyer.
The commissioner said the baby was rescued unharmed before any illegal transaction could take place.
He added that the child has since been reunited with his biological mother.
Police said investigations are continuing to identify and arrest other members of the suspected child trafficking network, including the woman identified only as “Mama.”
The commissioner urged parents and guardians to be vigilant and avoid handing over their children to strangers without proper verification.
He also appealed to residents to promptly report suspicious movements involving children to the nearest police station.
Child trafficking remains a major concern in several parts of Nigeria, with criminal syndicates often targeting vulnerable mothers and newborn babies under false promises of assistance, adoption or welfare support.
Law enforcement agencies have repeatedly warned members of the public to be cautious of individuals and organisations making unofficial arrangements involving children.
In another development, CP Oyeniyi announced the arrest of two suspects accused of originating and circulating false social media reports linking police officers to a fatal road accident on the Ughelli-Patani Expressway.
The suspects were identified as Egoh Best Akpobome, 35, and Omonigho Jitobor, 42.
According to the police commissioner, the false reports claimed that officers of the Delta State Police Command were responsible for a crash that occurred on June 27.
However, police investigations established that no police personnel or official vehicle was involved in the incident.
The commissioner explained that the accident involved a civilian driving a newly purchased but unregistered Mercedes-Benz GLK SUV.
The vehicle reportedly rammed into a commercial tricycle, killing 51-year-old Catherine Umokoro and leaving four other persons injured.
He described the circulation of false information as dangerous, saying such reports could mislead the public, damage the reputation of security agencies and create unnecessary tension.
The commissioner warned social media users against publishing or sharing unverified information, stressing that offenders would face prosecution under the law.
Meanwhile, the command also intensified enforcement of traffic and vehicle registration laws across the state.
Oyeniyi disclosed that during a coordinated operation carried out in Agbor on July 3, police officers impounded 31 vehicles for various traffic offences.
The offences included failure to display number plates, obstruction of number plates, expired vehicle documents and other traffic violations.
The operation, led by the Deputy Commissioner of Police in charge of Operations, covered Agbor metropolis, major highways and border communities between Delta and neighbouring Edo State.
According to the commissioner, the exercise forms part of ongoing efforts to improve public safety, discourage criminal activities involving vehicles and ensure compliance with traffic regulations.
He assured residents that the command would continue intelligence-driven operations aimed at protecting lives and property while tackling all forms of crime across the state.
Oyeniyi also appealed to members of the public to continue cooperating with the police by providing timely and credible information that could assist security agencies in preventing crime and arresting offenders.