A 21-year-old Nigerian man, Godwin Ako, has allegedly faked his own kidnapping and extorted N2 million in ransom from his family.
According to Enugu State Police spokesperson, Daniel Ndukwe, Ako conspired with three others to stage the abduction on May 4 in Enugu State.
Police operatives from the Nsukka Sector of the Anti-Cultism Tactical Squad arrested Ako and his three alleged accomplices, identified as Chidalu Okechukwu (19), Ifeanyi Ugwu (20), and Ossai Chigozie (35).
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Ndukwe, a superintendent of police, stated that Ako was reported missing on May 4. By May 24, his alleged accomplices used his mobile phone to demand a N10 million ransom from his family.
To convince the family, they sent a video clip showing Ako bound and appearing beaten, with a gun pointed at him.
His parents subsequently paid N1.5 million into a provided bank account on May 22, pleading for his release. However, the suspects failed to release him.
After an additional N500,000 payment, police operatives swiftly arrested Chidera and his accomplices at a POS center while they attempted to withdraw the funds.
The suspects have confessed to the crime and will be arraigned once investigations are complete. A locally made single-barrel gun and two live cartridges were recovered from them.
Enugu State Commissioner of Police, Bitrus Giwa, described the alleged act as unfortunate and ordered the arrest of anyone linked to the crime. He urged Nigerians to report suspected kidnap incidents immediately and to avoid hasty ransom payments, as some are staged.
It’s worth noting that Nigeria’s Terrorism (Prevention and Prohibition) Act (2022), enacted in May 2022, outlawed all forms of kidnapping.
This Act prescribes a death sentence if the abduction leads to loss of life and life imprisonment if there is no loss of life. It also mandates at least 15 years jail time for anyone who pays ransom to free kidnap victims.
Several individuals have already been convicted of kidnapping across the country, including Chukwudumeme Onwuamadike, alias Evans, who received a 21-year sentence in September 2022, and Hamisu Bala, known as Wadume, who was sentenced to seven years in jail in August 2022.
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