“I Kidnapped Myself” — Police Arrest 54-Year-Old Delta Woman For Allegedly Staging Abduction To Extort ₦15m From Younger Brother

The Delta State Police Command has arrested a 54-year-old woman for allegedly staging her own kidnapping and demanding ₦15 million in ransom from her younger brother after falsely claiming that she had been abducted by armed men and taken into a bush.

The Police Public Relations Officer of the Command, Bright Edafe, disclosed the development in a video in which the suspect admitted to fabricating the kidnapping and attempting to obtain money from her brother.

According to Edafe, the case was reported to the police on October 23, 2026, following claims that the woman had been kidnapped, prompting the Commissioner of Police to direct the Anti-Kidnapping Unit in Obu-Luku, Aniocha South Local Government Area of Delta State, to investigate.

The police spokesperson explained that operatives subsequently launched an intelligence-led investigation, which revealed that the alleged abduction was staged.

He expressed surprise that a 54-year-old woman would deliberately organise her own kidnapping to extort money from a family member, noting that similar incidents previously encountered by the police often involved teenagers and younger persons.

“On October 23, 2026, a case of suspected kidnapping was reported at Oguachukwu Division, and the Commissioner of Police, in his wisdom, directed the Anti-Kidnapping Unit of Obu-Luku to investigate.

“They started the investigation, and the result was alarming. In the past, we have heard of cases of self-kidnapping and fake kidnappings involving underage persons or teenagers aged 15, 16, 17 or 18 to 20.

“But we have never had a case involving a 54-year-old woman. It is quite unfortunate that she faked her own kidnapping because she wanted to extort N15m from her younger brother.

“We embarked on an intelligence-led investigation, which led to the eventual discovery that the kidnapping was fake. She was arrested before she started opening up,” Edafe said.

In the video released by the police spokesperson, the woman admitted to staging the abduction, explaining that she had told her brother she was kidnapped after leaving home to purchase medicine.

According to her account, she contacted her younger brother and claimed that her supposed abductors were demanding ₦15 million for her release, threatening to kill her if the money was not paid.

“I kidnapped myself. I told my brother I had been kidnapped when I went out to buy medicine, and it took me to the bush. I called my brother and told him.

“I told him they wanted N15m and that if he didn’t pay the money, they would kill me. It was the devil’s work. I want forgiveness. It was the devil’s work,” she confessed in the video.

Edafe further disclosed that the suspect claimed to have remained in captivity for 12 days, beginning from October 23, while maintaining the false impression that she was being held by kidnappers.

However, the police investigation reportedly uncovered inconsistencies in the account, leading operatives to establish that the kidnapping was fabricated.

The spokesperson commended the Anti-Kidnapping Unit for uncovering the alleged scheme and securing the woman’s arrest.

“She claimed that she was kidnapped on October 23 and remained in captivity for 12 days, all in a bid to extort N15m from her brother.

“But thanks to the intelligence of the Anti-Kidnapping Unit here in Obu-Luku, she was eventually arrested, and the cat was let out of the bag,” he stated.

Edafe also revealed that the investigation indicated the woman did not act alone, as other individuals allegedly participated in planning or executing the scheme.

He disclosed that police operatives were already tracking those suspected of conspiring with her and expressed confidence that they would be apprehended.

“Some of the people she conspired with are being tracked, and we are definitely going to arrest them,” the police spokesperson said.

The arrest followed the police investigation into what was initially presented as a genuine kidnapping case involving a ₦15 million ransom demand.

Although the suspect admitted to fabricating the incident in the video, the police have yet to disclose the identities of the alleged accomplices or announce any formal charges against those involved.

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