Operatives of the Edo State Police Command have arrested two men for allegedly staging a fake kidnap in a failed plot to extort ₦4 million from unsuspecting family members in Akoko-Edo Local Government Area.
The suspects, identified as Lucky Alabi, 48, and Taiye Enahoro, 37, both of Uneme Akpama Community in Igarra, were arrested on June 26 following what police described as credible intelligence and painstaking investigation.
The Edo State Police Command disclosed in a statement on Sunday that preliminary investigations revealed the pair conspired to fake the abduction of Alabi in an attempt to fraudulently obtain ransom from his relatives.
According to the command, the criminal plan was executed on June 23 when Enahoro allegedly made several telephone calls to Alabi’s family members, falsely claiming that he had been kidnapped and demanding a ransom of **₦4 million** for his release.
Police said the deception was uncovered through diligent investigative efforts, leading to the arrest of both suspects.
The command added that the suspects had confessed to their respective roles in the staged kidnap and would be charged to court upon the conclusion of investigations.
Reacting to the development, the Commissioner of Police, Edo State Command, CP Monday Agbonika, warned members of the public against engaging in criminal deception, including orchestrating fake kidnappings to extort money from relatives.
He reiterated the command’s commitment to ensuring that all persons involved in criminal activities are brought to justice.
The police also urged residents to promptly report suspicious activities, assuring that the command remains resolute in tackling crime across the state.
