Edo Police arrest Oluchi and three accomplices for staging a fake kidnapping to demand ₦50 million ransom. Firearm used in ransom videos recovered.
The Edo State Police Command has uncovered an alleged kidnapping hoax designed to extort ₦50 million from family members. Police arrested four suspects, including the woman who reportedly claimed to be the victim.
The case began on June 1, 2026, when Mr. Tony Ugbowan of Agbor Road, Benin City, reported that kidnappers had abducted his wife, 45-year-old Mrs. Oluchi Ugbowan. He said she disappeared while travelling to her shop at Ramat Park. According to his report, callers using a hidden phone number demanded ₦50 million for her release.
Officers from the Edo State Police Command’s Anti-Kidnapping Unit immediately launched an investigation. They gathered intelligence and used technical surveillance to trace those behind the alleged abduction.
Their efforts soon paid off. Investigators arrested 28-year-old Israel Ability at Ramat Park, Benin City. During the operation, they recovered the victim’s mobile phone. Police said Ability confessed that Oluchi hired him to negotiate ransom payments from her family while pretending she had been kidnapped.
The investigation took another turn on June 5. Police traced Oluchi to a hotel in Ukwuani Local Government Area of Delta State and arrested her. During interrogation, she allegedly admitted planning the fake kidnapping. She also led detectives to the home of another suspect, 38-year-old Ochukwudem Uwadia.
Investigators later discovered that Uwadia’s residence served as the location for videos sent to family members. In the footage, Oluchi appeared tied up and pleaded for help. The videos were meant to create the impression that kidnappers were holding her captive.
Police also identified Uwadia’s 18-year-old son, Chibuzor Ochukwudem, as a key participant in the scheme. Investigators said he appeared in the videos pointing a firearm at Oluchi’s head. The act was intended to convince relatives that the kidnapping was real and pressure them to pay the ransom.
Police have now arrested all suspects linked to the conspiracy. During a search of the premises, investigators recovered an automatic pump-action gun believed to have been used in the ransom videos.
The Commissioner of Police, Edo State Command, CP Monday Agbonika, commended the Anti-Kidnapping Unit for its professionalism and dedication. He praised officers for exposing what he described as an elaborate criminal scheme.
Agbonika stressed that police treat every kidnapping report with urgency. He warned that fake kidnapping cases are serious offences. He added that such acts divert security resources from genuine victims who need immediate assistance.
The commissioner also urged residents to report suspicious activities promptly. He advised the public to avoid actions that could create fear, panic, or unnecessary alarm in their communities.
The case highlights the commitment of law enforcement agencies to uncover criminal conspiracies, no matter how carefully they are planned.
