The Edo State Police Command has arrested a 27-year-old woman, Chioma Success Ezebie, for allegedly faking her own kidnap and collecting a ransom of ₦5 million from her husband.
Chioma was said to have staged her abduction alongside her three-year-old son on 27 October 2025. According to police reports, one Martins Chidozie, 23, called Chioma’s husband, Mr Paul Adaniken, to inform him that his wife and child had been kidnapped.
Alarmed, Adaniken reported the incident to the police, prompting the Command’s Anti-Kidnapping Unit to launch a cyber-intelligence investigation that led to the arrest of the victim’s cousin, 33-year-old Osita Godfrey.
Police said Godfrey, who was believed to be assisting the supposed victim with information, was later found to be complicit in the crime. His confession subsequently led to the arrest of Chioma.
Edo State Police Deputy Spokesperson, ASP Eno Ikoedem, said investigations revealed that Chioma conspired with her accomplices to stage the abduction and extort money from her husband.
“All suspects have made useful confessional statements, the ransom of ₦5,000,000 has been recovered, and the case has been transferred to the State Criminal Investigation Department (SCID) for further investigation and prosecution,” Ikoedem said.
The Commissioner of Police, CP Monday Agbonika, commended officers of the New Etete Division for their swift and tactical response, which exposed what he described as a “deceitful act.”
He warned residents against acts capable of undermining public peace, stressing that the Command will continue to deploy intelligence and technology-driven strategies to combat crime in all its forms.
