Delta: Woman allegedly stages own kidnap, found with lover in hotel

A married woman identified as Oluchi has been found in a hotel in Delta State after allegedly faking her own abduction and demanding N50 million from her family.

Before she was found, her children, including her daughter based in Canada, had appealed to the public for financial support to pay the ransom. The supposed kidnappers had reportedly reduced their demand from N50 million to N20 million.

The family had told the police that Oluchi was abducted around the Ikpoba Hill area of Ikpoba-Okha Local Government Area of Edo State.

However, police investigations led officers to Delta State, where Oluchi was found in a hotel with a man said to be her lover.

A source said, “Police traced the number of the man to a hotel in Ubiaroko, Delta State. They met the man and the kidnapped woman inside a hotel. They called the husband, and he was happy. It was at the station that the police broke the news to him. The wife begged the husband not to tell her children what actually transpired.”

In a video shared online, her daughter, Anita, who lives in Canada, said the incident had devastated the family and that the law should be allowed to take its course.

According to her, “My mum has been released. My mum is involved in this kidnapping case. I only did what I did to save my mom. The family is in shock. This is not right. This has shattered my family. My dad has some health issues. This is so unfortunate. What did I do wrong?

ALSO READ: VIDEO: Our abductors haven’t forced us to practice Islam — Kidnapped Oyo principal

“My reputation has been ruined. I am short of words. I am so mad. I have no hand in this. I never knew. I only wanted my mother back home. The law will take its course. I am sorry this is happening. I only did what any daughter would do. My family has been shattered.

“We were called that my mum has been released. We didn’t pay the kidnappers. The money is intact. We are going to make a refund. We involved the Police from the beginning. We now know it was not a real kidnapping. They said my mom is involved. They are having a relationship. The guy was traced. They had agreed to take what we already raised to N20m.”

The Harmony Ladies Club, a social group Anita belongs to, also reacted to the development. In a statement shared on its WhatsApp platform and sent to journalists, the club distanced itself from the alleged staged kidnapping.

The group said it was disappointed, shocked and embarrassed by the incident.

The statement read, “When news of her alleged abduction broke, the club acted swiftly in good faith. Out of sisterhood, love, and a sense of community responsibility, we rallied immediately.

“Our members provided extensive emotional, logistical, and financial support during what we believed was a life-threatening crisis, carrying the heavy burden of anxiety alongside her family.

“It is with a profound sense of betrayal that we have now discovered, through investigations, that the entire kidnapping incident was staged by Mrs. Oluchi herself.”

The spokesperson for the Edo State Police Command, Eno Ikoedem, confirmed the incident and said four people had been arrested.

She added, “I can confirm the incident and also let you know that four people have also been arrested in connection with the incident.”