Police Arrest 18-yr-old For Staging Own Abduction, 11 Suspected Kidnappers In Edo

The Edo Police Command has arrested an 18-year-old Obehi Odine for staging her own kidnapping and demanded N10m ransom, while 11 other suspects were arrested for being part of a kidnap syndicate.

In a statement on Tuesday by the Command’s PPRO, Eno Ikoedem, she said that exhibits, which included guns, were also recovered from the suspects.

The statement read, “A suspect, one Obehi Odine ‘F’, aged 18, was arrested for staging her own kidnap and demanding a ransom of ₦10million.

“She has confessed to the crime, admitting that the incident was deliberately fabricated to extort money.

“In a related operation in Ubiaja, the Command recorded another major operational success as bush-combing strategy yielded success.

“The Divisional Police Officer, Ubiaja personally led a coordinated bush-combing operation around Akwocha Camp and adjoining forest corridors, in collaboration with the Nigerian Military and the Edo State Security Corps (ESSC).

“A concealed forest enclave identified by the drone squadron through intelligence generated from air surveillance as a suspected kidnapping and logistics base, was stormed. This resulted in the arrest 11 male suspects believed to be members of an organised kidnapping syndicate.

“Exhibits recovered include 24 dane guns, 17 cutlasses, three battle axes, gun powder, torchlights, mobile phones, solar panels, assorted charms, one motorcycle, and ₦209,700.00 among other exhibits.”

Meanwhile, the Commissioner of Police, Monday Agbonika, has warned members of the public against engaging in false kidnapping reports and other deceptive acts.

He noted that such actions waste critical security resources, divert attention from genuine emergencies, create unnecessary panic, and undermine public confidence, hence anyone caught will be prosecuted accordingly.

He reiterated the Command’s resolve to sustain technology-driven policing, aggressive forest domination, and intelligence-led operations to dismantle criminal networks across the state.