Pastor, wife fake kidnapping to extort N10m from relatives abroad

A pastor and his 42-year-old wife, Sanmori Taiwo, have been apprehended for allegedly faking self-kidnapping to extort money from the woman’s relatives abroad.

The pastor and his wife were arrested by the operatives of the Ondo State Police Command.

The command’s spokesman, DSP Olushola Ayanlade, who disclosed this in a statement on Wednesday, August 27, 2025, said the incident occurred between the hours of 4 p.m. and 5 p.m. at her residence in Ondo Town on Saturday, August 23.

Ayanlade said Taiwo deliberately isolated herself in a separate room in her residence after conspiring with her 62-year-old husband, Pastor Sanmori Joshua, to stage her abduction.

He stated that the husband subsequently placed calls to the wife’s relatives using her mobile phone number, falsely claiming that she had been kidnapped by unknown gunmen who were demanding the sum of N10 million as ransom.

The police spokesman said: “Suspicious of the claims, one of the relatives, Mr Fasegha O. Joseph, through a written petition, reported the matter to the Commissioner of Police, CP Adebowale Lawal, who directed the Command’s Special Anti-Kidnapping Squad (SAKS).

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“Acting swiftly on the report, an investigation team from the Command’s anti-kidnapping squad, supported by Enu-owa Division in Ondo City proceeded to Sanmori’s residence in Ondo Town, where Mrs Taiwo was found.

“She falsely claimed to have just been released by kidnappers after a ransom of N5 million was allegedly paid.

“Upon further interrogation at the Command, Mrs Taiwo confessed that the abduction was staged as a self-kidnapping scheme, masterminded to extort money from her relatives abroad under the pretence of securing her release.

“She further admitted that her motive was to settle debts and provide for her personal needs.”

Ayanlade disclosed that both Taiwo and her husband are currently under investigation, noting that appropriate legal action would follow.

“We will diligently unravel all forms of criminality, whether real or staged, in order to preserve peace, protect lives, and safeguard the integrity of communities within the state,” he added.

The Star