Man Stages Own Kidnap in Lagos, Demands N60m

Segun Atanda/

Plans by a man to make N60million by arranging his own kidnap has backfired in Lagos.

Lagos State police spokesman, ASP Olarinde Famous-Cole, told how Ufom Edet Udoh was arrested while attempting to defraud his brother of N60million ransom.

According to Famous-Cole, on July 3, one Victor Udoh reported to the police that his younger brother, Ufom Edet Udoh, was kidnapped by unknown persons at Liverpool, in Apapa area of Lagos.

Famous-Cole said officers attached to Anti-Kidnapping Squad swung into action and traced calls the complainant received on his phone.

He added that this led to the arrest of one Paul Philips Okiemute, who reported the case at the work place of the supposed victim.

He said, “Okiemute, upon questioning, confessed that Udoh staged his own kidnap to collect money from his elder brother, to solve his financial problems.

“Udoh was not kidnapped at all. It was all a planned attempt to stage his own kidnap, so that he can be paid N60million ransom by his elder brother.

“The suspect said he made calls to the victim’s elder brother with an unknown number, demanding a ransom of N60million. Ufom Edet Udoh was later picked up and he confessed to the crime.

“He confessed to have checked into a hotel at Iyana-Ipaja area on July 3, where he spent three nights without food and water, hoping to cash the money.’’

The spokesman added that the Commissioner of Police, Mr Fatai Owoseni, however, ordered that the suspects should be immediately charged to court, “to serve as a deterrent to others who may want to cause a breach of the peace in Lagos State’’.

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