Edo Woman Fakes Own Kidnap For N50m Ransom

The Edo State Police Command has uncovered a staged kidnapping scheme involving a woman, identified as Mrs. Oluchi Ugbowan, and three accomplices who allegedly conspired to defraud her family of ₦50 million using a fabricated abduction narrative.

The Command said four suspects were arrested in connection with the case, following what it described as a discreet and intelligence-driven investigation by its Anti-Kidnapping Unit.

According to a statement by Eno Ikoedem, the Edo Police Public Relations Officer, Tony Ugbowan of Agbor Road, Benin City, had on 1 June, 2026 reported that his wife, 45-year-old Oluchi Ugbowan, was kidnapped while on her way to her shop at Ramat Park along Agbor Road.

He told police that he received a call on 28 May from a concealed number demanding ₦50 million ransom for her release.

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The police said operatives immediately launched investigations, which led to the arrest of one Israel Ability, 28, at Ramat Park, Agbor Road. A mobile phone belonging to the purported victim was reportedly recovered from him.

“Upon interrogation, the suspect confessed that he had been contracted by Mrs. Oluchi Ugbowan to negotiate ransom with her family while falsely presenting her as a kidnapped victim,” the Command stated.

Further investigations later led operatives to a hotel in Ukwuani Local Government Area of Delta State, where Mrs. Ugbowan was arrested on 5 June, 2026.

She was said to have confessed to staging her own kidnapping and subsequently led investigators to the residence of an alleged accomplice, Ochukwudem Uwadia, 38.

The police further revealed that the location was used to record videos depicting the victim with tied hands and feet, which were circulated to her family as proof of abduction. It added that Uwadia’s son, Chibuzor Ochukwudem, 18, was seen in the videos pointing a firearm at the victim to strengthen the fake kidnapping narrative.

The Command said all four suspects connected to the conspiracy have been arrested, adding that a search of the premises led to the recovery of an automatic pump-action gun allegedly used in the ransom videos.

Commissioner of Police, Edo State Command, CP Monday Agbonika, fdc, commended the operatives for what he described as their professionalism and timely unraveling of the deception.

He warned that the Command treats all kidnapping reports with utmost seriousness and deploys all available resources to rescue victims and apprehend perpetrators.

He also cautioned members of the public against engaging in false kidnapping schemes, noting that such acts constitute serious criminal offences and divert security resources from genuine cases.