21-year-old Arrested for Faking His Own Kidnapping in Enugu
Operatives of the Enugu State Police Command, under the Nsukka Sector of the Anti-Cultism Tactical Squad, have arrested four men for staging a fake kidnapping and defrauding the victim’s parents of N2,000,000.
The arrest, which occurred around 1:00 p.m. on May 24, 2025, involved 21-year-old Chidera Godwin Ako—who faked his own abduction—alongside his accomplices: 19-year-old Okechukwu Philip Chidalu, 20-year-old Ifeanyi Ugwu, and 35-year-old Ossai Chigozie, a recent ex-convict.
During the arrest, police recovered a locally made single-barrel gun and two live cartridges.
According to investigations, Chidera was initially reported missing on May 4, 2025.
Then, on May 21, his accomplices used his phone to contact his parents, demanding a N10 million ransom.
They sent a staged video showing Chidera appearing bruised and bound, with a gun pointed at him.
The distressed parents negotiated and paid N1.5 million on May 22, yet their son was not released.
An additional N500,000 was paid before police tracked the suspects to a POS center, where they were arrested while trying to withdraw the funds.
All four suspects have confessed to the crime and will be charged to court after investigations are concluded.
Confirming the development, Police Public Relations Officer SP Daniel Ndukwe said the state Commissioner of Police, CP Mamman Bitrus Giwa, has ordered the immediate arrest of any other individuals connected to the incident.
He described the act as “unfortunate and deceitful” and urged the public to promptly report suspected kidnappings to law enforcement rather than making hasty ransom payments, as some abductions may be fabricated.
21-year-old Arrested for Faking His Own Kidnapping in Enugu