A pregnant woman who faked her kidnap is currently being investigated by Police operatives of the FCT Command.
Nigeriacrime.com gathered that police arrested her after the husband paid the sum of N2 million ransom for her release.
However, since the husband already reported the kidnap to the Police, the investigation later revealed that the pregnant woman connived with her boyfriend to perpetrate the criminal act and later gave the sum of N800.000 to the boyfriend as his share while she took N1.2million as her share.
FCT Police Commissioner, Benneth Igweh who made this known at a briefing, disclosed that N793,500 cash was later recovered from them after their arrest.
He said, “On 11th March 2024 at about 7.40 pm, one Chiedozie Ubah of Saburi II, Dei-dei, Abuja, reported at Gwagwa division that his pregnant wife Rosemary Ubah left home to the hospital on the same date for a scan but did not return home.
“He later received a call through his wife’s phone number telling him that his wife had been kidnapped and demanded two (2) million naira ransom before her release.
“He transferred the sum of two (2) million naira into his wife’s account as instructed by the kidnapper.
“He later brought his wife to the station after her release.
“During interrogation, the wife freely confessed to have conspired with one man named Walter Ezeala living in the same street with them at Saburi to extort money from her husband.
“The said Walter was arrested and he confessed that his share was eight hundred thousand (N800,000) naira and the lady took one million two hundred thousand naira (N1,200,000).
“The sum of Seven hundred and ninety-three thousand five hundred naira (N793,500) cash, two (2) FCMB ATM cards and two android phones were recovered from them. Suspects will be charged to court soon.
Disclosing another faked kidnap that involved one Pascal Akuh, CP Igweh said, “On 14th March 2024, at about 5.30 pm, One Akuh Chinemezeh reported at APO Divisional Headquarters that his younger brother one Pascal Akuh 28 years, called him saying he was arrested by Police and taken to SCID custody.
“On the strength of this, the police and suspect’s family went to SCID, IRT and FCID detention facilities, only to discover that he is not in any of the aforementioned facilities.
“With the help of a tracker using coordinates, the suspect’s vehicle was traced to an area in Wumba, Apo.
“Acting on this intelligence, the police operatives from Apo Division swiftly mobilized to the scene, searched the entire axis and subsequently traced the suspect to a hotel in Lokogoma later in the night and arrested the suspect.
“During interrogation, the suspect confessed that he only faked his kidnap to prank the lady he intended to marry to know if she loves him. The suspect is to be arraigned in court soon.
Similarly, “On 17th March 2024 at about 2:30 pm, a distress call was received by Mabushi Division from two victims; one Blessing Mafulul Damia and Haliru Zakari, that some men in an unregistered Toyota Hilux trailed them while on their way home from H- Medix, Gwarimpa to Gishiri village.
“They robbed them of their valuables and attempted to kidnap them.
“Upon receipt of the information, police operatives of the division swung into action, trailed the vehicle and arrested two suspects namely; Gabriel David Elihu of Apo mechanic village and (a dismissed soldier from Gombe state) Alex Iorjaa of Gboko LGA of Benue state.
“A black-coloured Toyota Hilux with Reg No. NBB 03 AH (Nasarawa), a jackknife, and some military accoutrements were recovered from them. Suspects will be charged to court soon.
Speaking further CP Igweh urged residents of Abuja to be circumspect any time they hear of kidnapping saying it has emerged that most cases of kidnapping are being stage-managed with a view to extorting money from family members.
To guide against this trend, Igweh advised residents with alleged incidents of kidnapping to report to the Police before taking any action like payment of ransom.