Delta Woman Fakes Kidnapping, Demands N2m from Parents, Arrested with Boyfriend

The Delta State Police Command has apprehended a 21-year-old woman, Princess Okolie, and her boyfriend, Prince Atigbi, for orchestrating her fake kidnapping and demanding a ransom of N2 million from her parents.

According to a statement by the command’s spokesperson, SP Edafe Bright, the case came to light on January 2, 2025, when Mrs. Okolie Joy reported to the police that her daughter, Princess, had gone missing on December 30, 2024. The worried mother said she received a call the next day from alleged kidnappers, demanding N2 million for her daughter’s release.

Acting swiftly, Commissioner of Police CP Olufemi Abaniwonda ordered the Special Anti-Kidnapping and Cyber-Crime Squad to investigate and rescue the victim unharmed. Under the leadership of CSP Labe Joseph, operatives initiated an intelligence-driven operation. Their efforts led to the arrest of Prince Atigbi, who had just collected the ransom.

During interrogation, Atigbi confessed that he was not a real kidnapper but had acted under instructions from his girlfriend, Princess Okolie. Upon further investigation, Okolie admitted to staging her abduction in a bid to extort money from her parents. The police recovered the ransom money, and both suspects are now in custody as investigations continue.

The Commissioner of Police, while commending the officers for their swift action, advised parents and guardians to prioritize the moral upbringing of their children to prevent incidents that could bring distress to families and society.