A married woman, identified as Oluchi, has been discovered in a hotel in Delta State after allegedly orchestrating her own abduction and demanding a ransom of N50 million from her family.
The incident reportedly caused widespread concern among family members, friends, and well-wishers, with her children, including a daughter based in Canada, appealing to the public for assistance in raising funds for her release.
The purported kidnappers had reportedly reduced the ransom demand from N50 million to N20 million during negotiations.
Family members had initially reported to the police that Oluchi was abducted in the Ikpoba Hill area of Ikpoba-Okha Local Government Area of Edo State.
However, police investigations reportedly uncovered a different story. Acting on intelligence and technical tracking, operatives traced a suspect’s phone number to a hotel in Ubiaroko, Delta State, where Oluchi was allegedly found in the company of her lover.
A source familiar with the investigation said, “Police traced the number of the man to a hotel in Ubiaroko, Delta State. They met the man and the kidnapped woman inside a hotel. They called the husband and he was happy. It was when he got to the station that the police broke the sad news to him.
The wife begged the husband not to tell her children what actually transpired.”
Reacting to the development, Oluchi’s daughter, Anita, who resides in Canada, expressed shock and disappointment, describing the situation as devastating for the family.
According to her, “My mum has been released. There has been involvement of my mum in this kidnapped case. I only did what I did to save my mum. The family is in shock. This is not right. This has shattered my family. My dad has some health issues. This is so unfortunate. What
did I do wrong. My reputation has been ruined. I am short of words. I am so mad. I have no hand in this. I never knew. I only wanted my mym back home. The law will take its course. I am.sorry this is happening. I only did what any daughter will do. My family has been shattered.“We were called that my mum has been released. We didn’t pay the kidnappers. The money is intact. We are going to make a refund. We involved the Police from the beginning. We now know it was not a real kidnapping. They said my mum is involved. They are having a relationship. The guy was traced. They had agreed to take what we already raised to N20m.”
Meanwhile, the Harmony Ladies Club, of which Anita is a member, has distanced itself from the alleged kidnap scheme.
In a statement, the club expressed disappointment over the outcome of the investigation, noting that its members had mobilised support based on the belief that a genuine abduction had occurred.
The statement read, “When news of her alleged abduction broke, the club acted swiftly in absolute good faith. Out of sisterhood, love, and community responsibility, we rallied together immediately.
“Our members provided extensive emotional, logistical, and financial support during what we believed was a life-threatening crisis, carrying the heavy burden of anxiety alongside her family.
“It is with a profound sense of betrayal that we have now discovered, through official investigations, that the entire kidnapping incident was completely faked and staged by Mrs. Oluchi herself.”
The spokesperson for the Edo State Police Command, CSP Eno Ikoedem, confirmed the incident and disclosed that four suspects have been arrested in connection with the alleged staged kidnap plot.
