Police arrest 33-year-old man for staging own kidnap in Ondo
By Boye Oyeyemi
The Ondo State Police Command has arrested a 33-year-old man, Olawale Sikiru, for allegedly staging his own kidnap to extort money from his family, leading to the arrest of one of his accomplices in Akure.
The Police Public Relations Officer in the state, DSP Abayomi Jimoh, disclosed this in a statement on Saturday, saying the incident began on July 5 after the suspect’s mother, Mrs. Iyabo, reported that her son had been kidnapped while travelling to Igbara-Oke by suspected abductors who demanded a ₦1millon ransom.
According to the statement, detectives of the command’s Anti-Kidnapping Unit immediately launched an intelligence-driven investigation, including forensic analysis of the telephone number used to demand the ransom.
The investigation, the police said, led to the arrest of Sikiru on July 7, where he allegedly confessed to masterminding the fake kidnap and collecting ₦50,000 from his family as part of the ransom paid for his purported release.
“Further investigation led to the arrest of Agbelusi Ayomide, 23, who allegedly conspired with the suspect and sheltered him while the staged kidnapping was being carried out. Efforts are ongoing to arrest other members of the syndicate,” the statement added.
Reacting, the Commissioner of Police in the state, Felix Ohagwu, commended operatives of the Anti-Kidnapping Unit for exposing the alleged fraud, warning residents against staging kidnappings or aiding criminal conspiracies for financial gain.
“Ohagwu warned that such acts divert security resources, inflict emotional and financial hardship on families and attract severe legal consequences. He assured residents that the suspects would be charged to court after the conclusion of investigations.”
The command reiterated its commitment to intelligence-led policing and urged members of the public to continue providing credible information that would aid efforts to tackle crime and protect lives and property across Ondo State.
