New Bride Fakes Own Kidnap, Collects N3.6m Ransom

A 29-year-old woman who married in March has faked own kidnap to get ransom to offset the N3.6million loan she reportedly borrowed from her brother for wedding expenses.

Police said the woman identified as Merit Eleh has been arrested, along with other suspects involved in the scam.

Narrating the incident, Delta State Police Command’s spokesman, SP Bright Edafe, explained that the police received a report regarding that suspected fake kidnapper and her accomplices on July 21, 2025 at about 8:30pm.

“On 21st July 2025 at about 2030hrs, the Delta State Police Command received a report of a kidnapping incident involving a female victim who was abducted by unknown armed men in the Bonsaac area of Asaba.

“Acting promptly on the report, the Commissioner of Police, CP Olufemi Abaniwonda, directed the Commander Special Anti-Kidnapping and Cyber Crime Squad, CSP Godwin Osadolor to ensure that the victim is rescued unhurt.

“Acting on this directive, the Command led operatives and launched a coordinated intelligence-driven operation,” Edafe said.

He further explained that through diligent investigative efforts and strategic deployment, the operatives apprehended a man identified as Alfred Elisha at Koka Roundabout, Asaba, together with another suspect, Ugochukwu Adim who was apprehended off DLA Road, Asaba, on 22 July, 2025 at about 9am.

“Upon arrest of the suspects, he confessed that it was not a case of an actual kidnapping but a plot between the victim and himself,” Edafe said.

Due to this revelation, police arrested the suspect, Eleh, who confessed to owing her brother the sum of N3,600,000 used to sponsor her bridal shower and hotel expenses during her wedding in March 2025.

She further stated that she faked her kidnap and received a ransom of N3,000,000 from which she gave accomplices N500,000 and she took N2,5000,000 for herself.

“All suspects involved have been arrested and the investigation is ongoing,” Edafe confirmed.