DELSU Student Kidnaps Self, Demands N50 Million Bitcoin Ransom

The Delta State Police Command has apprehended Nelson Eserada, a 400-level student of Delta State University (DELSU), for allegedly staging his own kidnapping and demanding a ransom of N50 million to be paid in Bitcoin. His accomplice, Jerry Lawrence, was also arrested.

SP Bright Edafe, the command’s spokesman, revealed that the suspects were caught on Monday in Abraka, Ethiope East LGA, following an intelligence-led investigation spearheaded by the Divisional Police Officer (DPO) of Abraka Division, SP Fabian Ayameh.

The case came to light when Mr. Eserada’s father reported to the Abraka police that his son had been kidnapped and the abductors were demanding a hefty ransom of N50 million in Bitcoin. He also provided the police with a video showing his son tied up and being tortured.

“Upon receiving the complaint from Nelson Eserada’s father about the kidnapping and the ransom demand, DPO Ayameh initiated a swift and technical intelligence-led investigation,” SP Edafe stated. “This led to the arrest of Jerry Lawrence on June 10, 2024.”

Preliminary investigations revealed that Lawrence conspired with Eserada in the self-kidnapping scheme. Eserada’s father had already paid N5.2 million into a Bitcoin account linked to Lawrence.

The suspects are currently in police custody as the investigation continues.