Woman fakes kidnapping, found in hotel with lover

From Tony Osauzo, Benin

A married woman simply identified as Oluchi, who faked her abduction and demanded a N50 million ransom from her family, has been found in a hotel in Delta State.

Following the fake kidnapping, the children of the woman, including her daughter in Canada, had pleaded with the public to help them raise the ransom, which the kidnappers later reduced to N20 million.

It was gathered that the children had told the police that their mother was kidnapped in the Ikpoba-hill area of the Ikpoba-Okha Local Government Area, but the police investigation team found the supposed kidnapped woman with her lover in a hotel in Delta State.

“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,” a source said.

Meanwhile, the woman’s daughter in Canada, Anita, has said that her mother’s action has shattered the family and vowed that the family would allow the law to take its course.

“My mom has been released. There has been involvement of my mom in this kidnap case. I only did what I did to save my mom. 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 mom 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 mom 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 mom is involved. They are having a relationship. The guy was traced. They had agreed to take what we already raised to N20 million,” she said.

The Harmony Ladies Club, a social club Anita belongs to, has dissociated itself from the staged kidnap saga in a statement, expressing deep disappointment, shock and embarrassment at the actions of Mrs Oluchi.

“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 statement said.

The Police Public Relations Officer of the Edo State Police Command said four persons have been arrested in connection with the incident.