Police raise alarm over cases of self-kidnapping, false demands for ransom by individuals in Edo

The Edo State Police Command has raised the alarm over the rising cases of self-kidnapping and false ransom demands by individuals in the state.

The Command disclosed this on Wednesday in a statement made available to newsmen in Benin City.

The statement, issued by the Public Relations Officer, ASP Eno Ikoedem, on behalf of the Commissioner of Police in charge of the Command, Monday Agbonika, said the trend is prevalent within Ekpoma, Esan West Local Government Area, and its environs.

Agbonika disclosed that two suspects have been arrested in Ekpoma for self-kidnapping and false ransom demands.

He gave the names of the suspects as 18-year-old Obehi Odine and 34-year-old Idris Isiaka.

He added that Obehi was arrested by operatives of the Ekpoma Division along Old INEC Road, Ekpoma, on Monday, January 12, 2026, for staging her own kidnapping and demanding a ransom of N10 million. Idris Isiaka, a vulcaniser from Kogi State, was also arrested at Emaudo in Ekpoma for a similar act, alongside two others, on Saturday, January 10, 2026.

The Commissioner alleged that Isiaka engineered the circulation of news of his kidnapping on social media through a blogger and demanded a ransom of N12 million.

According to him, Isiaka’s family in Kogi State was contacted and threatened that he would be killed if the ransom was not paid.

“His brother, however, sold his property and paid part of the ransom, which was shared among his accomplices, Mohammed Saliu and Godwin Mohammed, both of whom are currently at large,” he said.

Agbonika added that the suspect has confessed to the crime and will be arraigned in court upon the conclusion of investigations.

He commended the concerned youths of Ekpoma, whose timely intelligence and cooperation significantly contributed to the arrests.

He urged others to emulate their actions, noting that it underscores the importance of community safety partnerships in effective policing.

Speaking further on the self-kidnapping trend, the Commissioner disclosed that the Command has intensified intelligence-led investigations and enforcement actions to curb the disturbing development.

“The Edo State Police Command wishes to inform the general public of this growing trend of individuals staging their own kidnapping and making false ransom demands, particularly within Ekpoma and its environs.

“We strongly warn individuals engaging in or contemplating self-kidnapping, false abduction claims, or ransom-related fraud to desist from such acts, as they constitute serious criminal offences, create unnecessary panic, and divert scarce security resources from genuine cases.

“The Edo State Police Command is committed to stamping out this ugly trend. Anyone who engages in such callous acts will be prosecuted in accordance with the law,” he warned.

He further urged youths and community members to continually key into security initiatives by channeling their energy toward supporting lawful security efforts, timely information sharing, and the promotion of peace and safety within their communities.