Woman levels personal kidnap in Delta, calls for N15m ransom

The lady, recognized as Umadi, reportedly informed her brother that she had been kidnapped by gunmen whereas going to purchase medication, pleading that the supposed kidnappers would kill her if he didn’t pay the cash.

During interrogation, the suspect reportedly admitted arranging the pretend abduction and contacting her brother to demand the ransom.

When requested how a lot she requested, she answered, “N15m”.

However, when requested why she determined to place her youthful brother by way of such misery, regardless of admitting that he had not wronged her, the suspect failed to provide a convincing rationalization.

An investigation by the Delta State Police Command reportedly uncovered the alleged abduction as a plot to extort cash from her household.

The Police Public Relations Officer, PPRO, SP Bright Edafe, disclosed that the incident was reported on the Ogwashi-Uku Police Division on October 23, 2026.

Edafe mentioned the Commissioner of Police subsequently directed operatives of the Anti-Kidnapping Unit, Ubuluku, to research the report and safe the girl’s launch.

He mentioned intelligence gathered by the operatives revealed that the girl had allegedly organized the kidnapping herself to defraud her youthful brother.

Expressing shock on the growth, the police spokesman mentioned the command had beforehand encountered circumstances of staged kidnappings involving youngsters however had by no means dealt with one involving a girl of her age.

“In the past, we have heard of cases of self-kidnap and fake kidnap that were done by underage or, let me say, teenagers of 15, 16, 17 to 20, but we have never had a case that involved a 54-year-old elderly woman.

“It is quite unfortunate that she faked her own kidnapping because she wanted to extort her younger brother a sum of N15m,” Edafe mentioned.

Edafe additional disclosed that the girl claimed she had been held captive for 12 days after allegedly staging the kidnapping.

The police spokesman recommended the youthful brother for reporting the incident to the police fairly than paying the ransom, urging members of the general public to alert safety companies each time they obtain kidnapping threats involving their relations.

He added that investigations had revealed the potential involvement of different individuals within the alleged scheme.

“Some of the people she conspired with her; we are still on their trail because obviously she didn’t do it alone, and we are definitely going to arrest them,” Edafe mentioned.

The command mentioned efforts had been ongoing to apprehend the suspected accomplices and unravel the circumstances surrounding the incident.