23 years old boy arrested with four for faking his own kidnap

By Jumoke Adeogun, Abeokuta

A 23 years old boy, Edward Okache was on 10th of October 2022 arrested with four others namely; Asamoah Ernest, Isiah Uti, Ephraim Anyijor and charity Lukpata for faking his own kidnap.

The suspects were arrested following a report lodged at Mowe divisional headquarters by one Comfort Okache who reported via phone call that his younger brother who traveled from Calabar to Lagos was kidnapped around Mowe area of Ogun state, and that the kidnappers were demanding for #10 million if the relations want to see the boy alive. 

Upon the report, the DPO Mowe division, SP Folake Afeniforo mobilized the division's tactical teams and moved to the area.

Upon painstaking and enduring combing of the surrounding bush at Orimerunmu area, the victim was sighted in an uncompleted building with the duo of Asamoah Ernest a Ghanaian and Isiah Uti, where he was tied in both hands and legs. 

The two suspects found with him were promptly arrested, while the victim was rescued. 

But on getting to the station, the two arrested suspects made a shocking revelation that the so called victim was the person who planned with them to kidnap him in order for him to extort money from his parents to invest on an online business. They stated further that the so called victim was introduced to them by Ephraim Anyijor and Charity Lukpata who are from the same Yala local government area of crossriver as the victim, and that they all are all part of the planned kidnap of Edward Ochace. 

Their confession led to the arrest of Ephraim Anyijor and charity Lukpata. They have all confessed to the commission of the crime. 

Meanwhile, the Commissioner of Police, CP Lanre Bankole, has directed that the suspects be transferred to anti kidnapping unit of the state Criminal Investigation Departments for further investigation and possible prosecution.