A 16-year-old SS2 student of a private secondary school in Abakaliki, Ebonyi State, has been caught after allegedly staging her own kidnapping and demanding a ransom of ₦2 million from her family.
According to the Ebonyi State Police Command, the teenage girl, a native of Izzi Local Government Area, orchestrated the fake abduction with the help of a family friend. She was supposed to resume school for the third term on Saturday but instead disappeared, sparking concern.
State Police Public Relations Officer, Joshua Ukandu, told reporters on Monday that the girl contacted a family member, claiming she had been kidnapped. Investigations later revealed she had been staying with a family friend, who was unaware of her plans.
In a statement to police, the girl claimed she lost consciousness after being tapped from behind while shopping for second-hand clothes (popularly called Okirika), and that she woke up the next day at Ishieke Junction in Ebonyi Local Government Area. She further told investigators that she often has dreams of being kidnapped and that her mother regularly prays for her protection.
Rather than returning home after regaining consciousness, she went to the residence of a family friend in Abakaliki. Using the man’s phone, she sent a message to her brother, claiming she had been abducted and demanding ₦2 million for her release.
When her brother requested to speak with the “kidnappers” and asked for their location, she refused and blocked his number. She later unblocked the number and sent a bank account—belonging to the family friend—for the ransom payment.
However, police were able to trace the phone used in the communication and quickly raided the house where she was hiding. All individuals connected to the incident were arrested.
Ukandu confirmed that a full investigation is ongoing, taking into account the girl’s age and the circumstances surrounding the fake kidnapping. She has since been reunited with her family, though authorities continue to probe the case.
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