A married woman identified as Oluchi has been found in a hotel in Delta State after allegedly staging her own abduction and demanding a ransom of ₦50 million from her family.
The incident, which initially sparked concern and public appeals for financial assistance, took a dramatic turn after police investigations reportedly revealed that the alleged kidnapping was fabricated.
According to reports, Oluchi’s family had informed the police that she was kidnapped in the Ikpoba Hill area of Ikpoba-Okha Local Government Area of Edo State.
Her children, including a daughter based in Canada, had publicly appealed for help in raising funds for her release after the supposed kidnappers reportedly reduced their ransom demand from ₦50 million to ₦20 million.
However, a police investigation led operatives to a hotel in Obiaruku, Delta State, where the woman was allegedly discovered in the company of her lover.
A source familiar with the investigation said police traced the man’s phone number to the hotel and found both individuals together.
“The police traced the number of the man to a hotel in Delta State. They met the man and the woman inside the hotel.
Her husband was later informed of the development,” the source reportedly said.
Reacting in an online video, Oluchi’s daughter, Anita, expressed shock and disappointment over the incident, describing it as a devastating betrayal that has left the family shattered.
“My mum has been released. My mum is involved in this kidnapping case. I only did what I did to save my mother.
The family is in shock. This is not right. This has shattered my family,” she said.
Anita also disclosed that no ransom was paid and that any funds raised during the period would be refunded.
“We involved the police from the beginning. We now know it was not a real kidnapping. The money is intact, and we are going to make a refund,” she added.
A social group identified as Harmony Ladies Club, to which Anita belongs, also distanced itself from the incident.
In a statement, the group expressed disappointment over what it described as a staged kidnapping and condemned the alleged deception.
The statement noted that members had provided emotional, logistical, and financial support in the belief that Oluchi had genuinely been abducted.
Confirming the incident, the spokesperson of the Edo State Police Command, CSP Eno Ikoedem, said four persons had been arrested in connection with the case.
“I can confirm the incident and also let you know that four people have been arrested in connection with the incident,” she stated.
Police investigations are ongoing, and authorities are expected to determine the specific charges that may be brought against those involved.
Source: Punch Newspaper
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