The family of a 33-year-old man desperately making efforts to rescue their son from kidnappers could not believe it when the Ondo State Police Command uncovered the incident as a staged plot allegedly masterminded by the supposed victim himself.
The Police Public Relations Officer DSP Jimoh Abayomi said the 33-year-old Olawale Sikiru of St. Luke Street, Akure, allegedly faked his own abduction and tricked his family into paying part of a ₦1 million ransom before detectives unraveled the deception.
According to the Command, it all began on July 5 when Sikiru’s mother, Mrs. Iyabo, reported at the police station that her son had been kidnapped by unknown gunmen while travelling to Igbara-Oke for work.
The heartbroken family members were said to have received calls demanding ₦1 million for his release, throwing the household into panic.
Detectives from the Anti-Kidnapping Unit then, launched an intelligence-led investigation, tracking the telephone line used to demand the ransom while deploying other forensic tools to trace the suspects.
Their investigation took an unexpected turn on July 7 when officers arrested Sikiru, who allegedly confessed to orchestrating his own kidnapping.
Police said the suspect had already succeeded in collecting ₦50,000 from his family as part payment of the ransom before the scheme was exposed.
Further investigations led to the arrest of 23-year-old Agbelusi Ayomide, who allegedly provided Sikiru with shelter while the fake kidnapping was being staged.
The police added that efforts are ongoing to arrest other suspects believed to have played roles in the criminal conspiracy.
Commissioner of Police, Felix Ohagwu, praised the professionalism of the Anti-Kidnapping Unit for exposing what he described as a deceptive scheme designed to exploit the emotions of family members.
He warned that staging kidnappings for financial gain not only causes emotional trauma and financial losses to relatives but also diverts security personnel and resources from responding to genuine kidnapping cases.
The Commissioner stressed that those involved in such acts would face the full weight of the law, adding that the suspects would be charged to court upon the conclusion of investigations.
The Command also urged residents of Ondo State to continue providing credible information to security agencies to aid the fight against crime and ensure the safety of lives and property.
