Edo Police Bust Housewife’s Fake Kidnap Plot, Recover ₦5m Ransom

Police in Edo State have uncovered a staged kidnapping allegedly masterminded by a 27-year-old housewife, Chioma Adaniken, in an attempt to extort ₦5 million from her husband.

The state police command said Chioma conspired with her cousin, Osita Godfrey, and another accomplice, Martins Chidozie, to fake her abduction alongside her three-year-old son in Benin City.

According to the Deputy Police Public Relations Officer, Eno Ikoedem, the husband, Paul Adaniken, reported the supposed kidnapping to the New Etete Police Division after receiving a ransom call demanding ₦5 million for the release of his wife and child.

“Detectives immediately launched investigations and deployed intelligence-led operations,” Ikoedem said. “The supposed negotiator, Osita Godfrey, was discovered to be complicit and was later arrested. His confession led to the arrest of Chioma, who had staged the kidnap to extort her husband.”

Police recovered the ransom money and arrested the third suspect, 23-year-old Martins Chidozie.

The case has since been transferred to the State Criminal Investigation Department (SCID) for further investigation.

The Edo State Police Command warned residents against fabricating crimes for financial gain, stressing that such acts will attract the full weight of the law.