Woman fakes own kidnap, extorts ₦5m ransom from husband

Woman fakes own kidnap, extorts ₦5m ransom from husband

In a bizarre twist of crime and deception, operatives of the Edo State Police Command have arrested a 27-year-old woman, Chioma Success Ezebie, for allegedly orchestrating her own kidnapping and collecting a ransom of ₦5 million from her unsuspecting husband.

According to police reports, Chioma staged her abduction alongside her three-year-old son on October 27, 2025. She allegedly enlisted the help of one Martins Chidozie, 23, who contacted her husband, Paul Adaniken, claiming that both mother and child had been kidnapped.

Alarmed, Adaniken reported the incident to the police, prompting the Command’s Anti-Kidnapping Unit to launch a full-scale cyber and intelligence-led investigation. The operation led to the arrest of Osita Godfrey, 33, a cousin of the supposed victim, who was found to be complicit in the scheme.

Edo State Police Deputy Spokesperson, ASP Eno Ikoedem, confirmed that Osita’s confession was instrumental in uncovering the plot and led to Chioma’s arrest.

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“Chioma conspired with accomplices to stage her abduction in order to extort money from her husband,” Ikoedem said.

He added that all suspects have made useful confessional statements and that the ₦5 million ransom has been recovered. The case has since been transferred to the State Criminal Investigation Department (SCID) for further investigation and prosecution.

The Commissioner of Police, CP Monday Agbonika, commended officers of the New Etete Division for their swift and tactical response, which led to the unraveling of what he described as a “deceitful act.”

“This kind of behavior undermines public trust and wastes valuable security resources,” Agbonika stated.

He also issued a stern warning to residents to desist from criminal acts that threaten public peace, emphasizing the Command’s commitment to deploying intelligence and technology-driven strategies to combat crime in all forms.

The incident has sparked public debate over rising cases of staged crimes and the misuse of security resources, with many calling for stiffer penalties to deter similar offenses.

Woman fakes own kidnap, extorts ₦5m ransom from husband