CYRIACUS IZUEKWE
Police operatives from the Lagos State Command have revealed how a 53-year old man and his 48-year old wife planned and stage-managed their failed self-kidnapping in order to raise money from the members of their family.
P.M.EXPRESS reports as was disclosed by the Police Public Relations Officer, SP Benjamin Hundeyin, who confirmed that the couple has been arrested and detained in Police custody undergoing interrogation over their conduct but declined to disclose their names.
However, he stated that the husband, who is a technician, and his wife, a body massager and bone setter, were arrested on Wednesday and Thursday respectively after a family member reported the purported kidnapping to the Police.
SP Benjamin Hundeyin stated that the couple had already confessed that they planned the self-kidnap with a view to raising N3 million to buy back their house in the Badagry area of Lagos.
“The man brought the idea and sold it to his wife. He did not deny it before the Police. He said he did it through text message for a purpose. He said he did it because he wanted to re-buy his house back with N3 million.”
“The man claimed he decided to organize self-kidnap because none of his brothers and sisters doing well and some living abroad were willing to assist him financially.”
“He claimed that if they hear of his kidnap with his wife, they would negotiate with the kidnappers and pay the money,” the spokesperson quoted the man as saying.
Hundeyin stated that the couple was still living in their house in Badagry when they sent out text messages of their kidnap to their relations, stressing that when Police visited the house on Tuesday, they met the wife and three children.
He stated that the Police requested the woman to follow them to the Police Headquarters, Ikeja, but the woman pleaded with them to allow her to come the next day Wednesday, which was granted.
The image maker said that the woman came to the station as promised and was arrested for self-kidnap, while the husband was arrested the following day Thursday.
“She admitted that she supported her husband in the crime. She equally admitted that her husband discussed the matter with her and she gave her approval because they never thought it will turn out negative.”
“The woman claimed that if the plan worked out, it would have been the easiest way to raise the money to buy back their house since her husband’s brothers in the UK are not willing to help him,” Hundeyin quoted the woman’s confession to the Police.
Hundeyin pointed out that the woman claimed to service an average of three clients for either bone setting or stroke massaging at the cost of about N150,000 per person depending on the condition of the patient, wondering why she could not gather such money for the project.
He, however, said that the couple claimed they regretted their actions, appealing to their families and Police for forgiveness.
The image maker said that the suspects advised members of the public to avoid crime and never be interested in family or other people’s wealth.
He stated that the couple will be charged before the Court for the alleged offence under the Criminal Laws of the State but that will be after the conclusion of investigations by the Police.