How Man Staged Own Kidnap, Demanded N60m From Sibling

CYRIACUS IZUEKWE

The Lagos police have arrested a man who attempted to defraud his brother by staging his own kidnap.

Public Relations Officer of the Lagos Police command, ASP Olarinde Famous-Cole said on July 3, one Victor Udoh reported to the command that his younger brother, Ufom Edet Udoh, was kidnapped by unknown persons at Liverpool in Apapa area of Lagos state.

Famous-Cole said men of the Command’s Anti-kidnapping squad, quickly swung into action and traced the call the complainant received on his phone.
This led to the arrest of one Paul Philips Okiemute, who reported the case at the work place of the supposed victim.

Okiemute, upon questioning confessed that Udoh staged his own kidnap to collect money from his elder brother due to his financial problems.

“Udoh was not kidnapped,  it was all a planned attempt to stage his own kidnap so that he can be paid ransom by his elder brother”

The suspect said he made calls to the victim’s elder brother with an unknown number demanding a ransom of N60,000,000. Ufom Edet Udoh was later picked up and confessed to the crime.

He said he had checked into an hotel at Iyana-Ipaja area on July 3, 2017 where he spent three nights without food and water.

Udoh added that he later trekked to Ifo area in Ogun state, only to return to Lagos looking frail for his story to look convincing.

Fatai Owoseni, Lagos state Commissioner of Police, however, ordered the suspects be charged to court immediately, Owoseni said their arrest should serve as a deterrent to others who are likely to cause breach of peace in the state.