A housewife, Mrs Grace Obi has been fingered by the Delta State Police Command for orchestrating her own kidnap in order to fleece money from her husband.
The incident happened in Warri on the 7th of March, when the husband went to report the kidnap of his wife at the Warri Area Command.
ACP Husseini Rabiu, the Area Commander told the husband to play along with the kidnappers after they requested N1.5 million.
The ransom was given to close confidants of the victims Mr Ogonna Onu and Mr Gift Erah to deliver to the hoodlums and secure the release of his wife.
Tribune reports that the duo of Onu and Erah were said to have embarked on the errand in a Toyota Highlander with Reg. No. SMK 370 AZ belonging to the victim (Mrs Obi) to deliver the ransom to the hoodlums at an arranged venue.
After delivery, the victim was subsequently released on March 9, the third day, after the ransom was paid.
The bubble burst when ACP Rabiu directed that the victim’s Highlander SUV be searched and to his chagrin, N1, 189, 000 suspected to be part of the ransom money paid was seen carefully concealed in the spare tyre compartment of the jeep.
While the drama lasted, Mr Erah and one Mr Fred Akpvita, both tenants to the complainant, realising that the game was up, bolted away, while Mr Onu was arrested and he is currently undergoing investigation.
The prime suspect, Mrs Obi and her accomplice, Mr Onu, could not be reached for comments.
Meanwhile, the Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO), DSP Celestina Kalu, who confirmed the incident, said preliminary investigation into the saga had already revealed that the purported kidnap was stage-managed by the victim and the suspects in order to fleece money from the complainant, Mr Obi.
She said efforts were still on to apprehend other fleeing suspects.