Man nabbed for faking own kidnap to extort N500,000
By Boye Oyeyemi –
The Ondo State Police Command has apprehended a 29-year-old man, Bello Azeez, for allegedly staging his own abduction in a bid to extort N500,000 from his family and friends.
The police spokesperson, DSP Olushola Ayanlade, disclosed in a statement on Saturday that the suspect, a native of Ipele in Owo Local Government Area, devised the plan after his father refused to lend him the money to settle a debt.
“When his request was turned down, he staged his abduction. On Aug. 11, he claimed he was travelling to Ibadan, then started making distress calls to his parents and friends, alleging he had been kidnapped,” Ayanlade said.
According to the police, Azeez instructed that the ransom contributions, partly raised through a GoFundMe account, be paid directly into his personal bank account.
Bello’s relatives, puzzled by the unusual request, alerted security operatives. Thereafter, investigators later discovered through phone tracking that the suspect never left Owo during the supposed abduction.
“This case underscores the dangers of greed and deceit, which can ruin lives. Parents and guardians are urged to guide their children against crime, peer influence, and moral decadence,” Ayanlade added.
The police further urged members of the public to shun acts of deception and continue to work with security agencies to ensure peace and safety in society.
