How a Man Faked His Own Kidnap, Collected N2 Million Ransom from His Family — Police

A 21-year-old man, Godwin Ako, has been arrested by the Enugu State Police Command for allegedly staging his own kidnapping and extorting N2 million in ransom from his unsuspecting family. According to police spokesperson Daniel Ndukwe, Ako conspired with three others to carry out the fake abduction on 4 May in Enugu State.

The arrest was made by operatives from the Nsukka Sector of the Anti-Cultism Tactical Squad. The police also apprehended his alleged accomplices: Chidalu Okechukwu, 19; Ifeanyi Ugwu, 20; and Ossai Chigozie, 35.

Ako’s family reported him missing earlier in May. On 24 May, the conspirators used his phone to demand N10 million from his family, sending a disturbing video clip that showed Ako tied up and seemingly beaten, with a gun aimed at him. The family, desperate for his release, transferred N1.5 million on 22 May to a bank account provided by the suspects. When the victim was not released, they sent an additional N500,000.

Police operatives tracked and arrested the suspects at a POS centre while they attempted to withdraw the ransom money. A locally made single-barrel gun and two live cartridges were recovered from them. The suspects have reportedly confessed to the crime and will be charged after the investigation is completed.

Commissioner of Police in Enugu State, Bitrus Giwa, condemned the incident and ordered the arrest of anyone else connected to the scheme. He advised citizens to report suspected kidnappings immediately and to be cautious with ransom payments, as some cases may be fabricated.

Under Nigeria’s Terrorism (Prevention and Prohibition) Act of 2022, all forms of kidnapping are prohibited. The law prescribes life imprisonment for kidnapping without loss of life and a death sentence if a victim is killed. It also imposes a minimum 15-year prison term for anyone who pays a ransom.

The case adds to a growing list of kidnapping-related convictions in Nigeria, where authorities continue efforts to crack down on both actual and staged abductions.