Akwa-Ibom Lovers Arrested for Faking Kidnapping Scheme

The Akwa Ibom Police Command has apprehended Imaobong Sampson and her boyfriend, Beltus Ebong, in Mbierebe Obio village, Ibesikpo Asutan Area of the state, for orchestrating a fake kidnapping scheme.

According to Odiko Macdon, the spokesperson for the state police command, the suspects were apprehended in their hideout by operatives of the Anti-Kidnapping Squad following a report of kidnapping last week Monday by a person claiming to be a relative.

“On 11/3/2024 at about 10:00hrs, a report was received from one Enobong Sampson ‘F’ of Nung Oku Village in Ibesikpo Asutan L.G.A that her sister, one Imaobong Francis Sampson, was kidnapped and that the kidnappers were demanding for a ransom of four million naira,” Macdon stated.

He further elaborated, “As a result, operatives of Anti-Kidnapping Squad of the command embarked on an intense and intelligence-driven investigation so as to track down the perpetrators and rescue the victim. On 12/3/2024 at about 23:15hrs, the said purported victim, one Imaobong Sampson ‘M’, and her boyfriend, Beltus Ebong ‘M’, were arrested in their hideout at Mbierebe Obio Village, Ibesikpo Asutan L.G.A.”

Imaobong confessed to staging her own kidnapping along with her associates to extort money from her aunt who resides abroad.

“She confessed to having conspired with her boyfriend, one Beltus Ebong ‘M’, Dominic Friday Charlie ‘M’, her sister, Enobong Sampson ‘F’, and Inyene Ime Akpan now at large to proclaim her kidnap in order to raise money from her aunty who is based abroad,” Macdon concluded.

This incident echoes a similar case reported by the Ogun State Police Command, where one Olumide Openaike, a staff member of a Microfinance Bank, staged his abduction over a N1.7m debt and was found in Mokwa, Niger State.