Four male suspects have been arrested by operatives of the Enugu State Police Command, attached to the Nsukka Sector of the Anti-Cultism Tactical Squad.
The suspects were arrested on May 24, 2025, at about 1 p.m. for conspiracy, staged kidnapping, and defrauding the parents of the staged kidnap victim of the sum of two million naira only (₦2,000,000.00).
The 21-year-old Mr. Chidera Godwin orchestrated his own kidnapping with his accomplices: Okechukwu Philip Chidalu, aged 19; Ifeanyi Ugwu, aged 20; and Ossai Chigozie, aged 35. Ossai Chigozie was recently released from the Nigerian Correctional Service custodial centre.
The Police Command’s bulletin, signed by the Police Public Relations Officer, SP Daniel Ndukwe, states;
“Chidera was reported missing on May 4, 2025. Subsequently, on May 21, 2025, his accomplices used his phone to demand a ₦10,000,00.00 ransom from his parents, sending a video of him bound, appearing beaten, with the recovered gun pointed at him.”
“The parents pleaded for his release and paid ₦1,500,000.00 into a provided account on May 22, 2025, but the suspects failed to release him. After an additional ₦500,000.00 payment, the police operatives swiftly arrested Chidera and his accomplices at a POS centre during an attempt to withdraw the funds.”
“The suspects confessed to the crime and will be arraigned upon completion of investigations.”
“A locally made single-barrel gun and two live cartridges were recovered from the suspects.”
Meanwhile, the Commissioner of Police, CP Mamman Bitrus Giwa, urges the public to report suspected kidnappings immediately and avoid hasty ransom payments, as some kidnap cases are staged.
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