33-year-old man fakes kidnap to extort N1m from family members

A 33-year-old man, Olawale Sikiru, has been arrested for allegedly staging his own kidnapping and demanding N1 million from his family members in Akure, the capital of Ondo State.

The Ondo State Police Public Relations Officer, DSP Abayomi Jimoh, disclosed this in a statement issued on Saturday, July 11, 2026.

Jimoh, who warned against staging kidnapping for financial gains, said the suspect was arrested after he was reported by his mother on July 5.

Jimoh said the complianant reported that her 33-year-old son had been kidnapped by unknown persons while travelling to Igbara-Oke for work.

He stated: “The command immediately commenced a coordinated investigation, deploying intelligence assets and conducting forensic analysis of the telephone number used by the suspects to demand a ransom of N1 million from the victim’s family.

“The painstaking investigation yielded positive results on July 7, when detectives arrested Olawale Sikiru, who was discovered to have orchestrated his own kidnap.

“Investigation revealed that he deliberately staged the abduction and succeeded in collecting N50,000 as part of the ransom paid by his family for his purported release.

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“Further investigation led to the arrest of one Agbelusi Ayomide, 23 years, who allegedly conspired with the suspect and harboured him in his residence while the fraudulent kidnapping plot was being executed.

“Efforts are ongoing to apprehend other members of the syndicate believed to have participated in the criminal act, while the arrested suspects will be charged to court upon conclusion of investigation.”

Jimoh, therefore, warned Nigerians against engaging in or aiding staged kidnappings or any form of criminal conspiracy.

The police spokesperson stressed that self-kidnap acts divert critical security resources, inflict emotional and financial hardship on families, and attract severe legal consequences.