Police arrest man in Ondo for staging own kidnap to extort family
…recover N800,000k, cigarettes,
The Ondo State Police Command has arrested a man for allegedly masterminding his own kidnapping in an attempt to extort ransom money from his family, thenationonlineng.net reported.
In a statement on Tuesday, the command’s spokesperson, Olayinka Ayanlade, said the arrest reflected the police’s renewed commitment to tackling fraudulent and staged criminal activities across the state.
Ayanlade explained that operatives of the Police Command in Ogbese Division, working with non-state security groups including the Oodua Peoples Congress, hunters and vigilantes, intercepted two suspects during a routine patrol at Kashimola/Agunla Forest.
The suspects were reportedly found with N800,000, a roll of Benson cigarettes and a bottle of Aromatic Schnapps — items that immediately raised suspicion.
Ayanlade, a Deputy Superintendent of Police, said that during interrogation, the suspects claimed the cash was ransom meant to secure the release of their younger brother, identified as Mathew Ekele, whom they alleged had been abducted.
He added that, acting on the information, the police set up a sting operation to apprehend anyone who attempted to collect the purported ransom.
“During this operation, the team intercepted a motorcycle conveying John Peter ‘m’, 30 years old, and James Peter ‘m’, both of Igbodudu Camp via Daada Ala,” the statement read.
Ayanlade said one individual allegedly arrived at the designated spot to collect the ransom and was promptly arrested.
“But further investigation revealed a surprising twist: the supposed kidnap victim had orchestrated the entire scheme.
“Police later traced and arrested Mathew Ekele in a nearby bush along Ogbese Road, where he had taken position to collect the ransom after pretending to have been abducted. His motorcycle was also recovered as evidence,” it further read.
Ayanlade lauded the success of the operation, crediting it to intelligence-led policing backed by the strategic leadership of the Inspector General of Police, Kayode Adeolu Egbetokun, whose support, he said, continues to strengthen police operations nationwide.
The command, however, called on the residents of the state to remain vigilant and promptly report suspicious activities, noting that timely information is crucial in preventing criminals from deceiving families through staged kidnappings.
The police reiterated their commitment to safeguarding lives and property, assuring the public that all forms of criminality will be tackled decisively across the state.
