Ondo police arrest man who faked own kidnap to extort family
By Boye Oyeyemi –
The Ondo State Police Command has arrested a man, Mathew Ekele, who staged his own kidnapping to extort money from family members.
According to a statement by the spokesperson for the command, DSP Ayanlade Olayinka, the operation, which involved intelligence-led policing, highlighted the command’s proactive efforts to prevent fraud and protect residents.
“A joint team from Ogbese Division, working with non-state security actors including the Oodua Peoples Congress (OPC), hunters and vigilantes, intercepted two suspects transporting ₦800,000, cigarettes and alcohol during a bush-combing operation at Kashimola/Agunla Forest.
“During interrogation, the suspects revealed that the cash was meant as ransom for their younger brother, Mathew Ekele, who was supposedly abducted. Police quickly set up a sting to apprehend anyone attempting to collect the ransom.”
The statement added that further investigation uncovered that the kidnapping had been staged by Ekele himself. He was later arrested along Ogbese Road while attempting to collect the ransom, and his motorcycle was recovered as evidence.
The command urged members of the public to remain vigilant and report any suspicious activity promptly to prevent families from being duped by similar schemes.
It, however, reaffirmed its commitment to safeguarding lives and property while combating all forms of criminality across the state.
