ICYMI: Woman ‘fakes own kidnap, collects N5m ransom’ from husband in Edo

Operatives of the Edo State Police Command have arrested a 27-year-old woman, Chioma Success Ezebie, for allegedly staging her own kidnapping and extorting N5 million ransom from her husband.

It was gathered that Chioma conspired with others to fake her abduction along with her three-year-old son on October 27, 2025, in Benin.

Her unsuspecting husband, Paul Adaniken, reportedly received a distress call from a man who identified himself as Martins Chidozie, claiming that his wife and child had been kidnapped and demanding ransom for their release.

Worried about their safety, Adaniken immediately reported the incident to the police, prompting the Anti-Kidnapping Unit of the Command to launch an investigation.

According to the Command’s Deputy Public Relations Officer, ASP Eno Ikoedem, operatives used cyber-tracking and intelligence tools to trace the incident to Chioma’s cousin, 33-year-old Osita Godfrey, who was later arrested.

“Investigations revealed that Chioma conspired with her accomplices to fake her abduction and extort N5 million from her husband,” ASP Ikoedem disclosed.

He said Godfrey’s confession eventually led to Chioma’s arrest, while the N5 million ransom was recovered by the police.

According to the police, the suspects have since been transferred to the State Criminal Investigation Department (SCID) for further investigation and prosecution.

Meanwhile, the Commissioner of Police, Monday Agbonika, commended the officers of the New Etete Police Division for their swift response and professionalism in handling the case.

Agbonika also warned residents against engaging in criminal acts capable of breaching public peace, assuring that the Command would continue to deploy intelligence-led and technology-driven strategies to combat crime across Edo State.

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