A married woman identified as Oluchi has been found in a hotel in Delta State after she faked her abduction and demanded N50m from her family.
It was learnt on Monday that the children of the woman, including her daughter in Canada, had pleaded with the public to help them raise money, even as the kidnappers reduced the ransom to N20m.
They had told the police that their mother was kidnapped at the Ikpoba Hill area of Ikpoba-Okha Local Government Area of Edo State.
However, our correspondent learnt that a police investigation led its crack team to Delta State, where the supposedly kidnapped woman was found with her lover in a hotel.
A source privy to the incident but who chose to speak on condition of anonymity because of the sensitive nature of the incident said, “Police traced the number of the man to a hotel in Ubiaroko, Delta State.
“They met the man and the kidnapped woman inside a hotel. They called the husband, and he was happy. It was at the station that the police broke the news to him. The wife begged the husband not to tell her children what actually transpired.”
In an online video seen on Monday, her daughter, Anita, who is based in Canada, said her mum’s action had shattered the family.
She vowed that the family would allow the law to take its course.
According to her, “My mum has been released. She is involved in this kidnapping case. I only did what I did to save my mom. The family is in shock. This is not right. This has shattered my family. My dad has some health issues. This is so unfortunate. What did I do wrong?
“My reputation has been ruined. I am short of words. I am so mad. I have no hand in this. I never knew. I only wanted my mother back home. The law will take its course. I am sorry this is happening. I only did what any daughter would do. My family has been shattered.
“We were told that my mum has been released. We didn’t pay the kidnappers. The money is intact. We are going to make a refund. We involved the police from the beginning.
“We now know it was not a real kidnapping. They said my mom is involved. They are having a relationship. The guy was traced. They had agreed to take what we already raised to N20m.”
The Harmony Ladies Club, a social club Anita belongs to, in a statement on its WhatsApp group forwarded to journalists, dissociated itself from the staged kidnapping.
It expressed deep disappointment, shock, and embarrassment at Mrs Oluchi’s actions.
The statement read, “When news of her alleged abduction broke, the club acted swiftly in good faith. Out of sisterhood, love, and a sense of community responsibility, we rallied immediately.
“Our members provided extensive emotional, logistical, and financial support during what we believed was a life-threatening crisis, carrying the heavy burden of anxiety alongside her family.
“It is with a profound sense of betrayal that we have now discovered, through investigations, that the entire kidnapping incident was staged by Mrs Oluchi herself.”
The spokesperson for the state command, Eno Ikoedem, confirmed the incident and said four persons had been arrested in connection with it.
“I can confirm the incident and also let you know that four people have been arrested in connection with the incident,” she stated.
