The Niger state Police command has arrested a man and his wife for faking their own abduction.
The suspects, Mohammed Mohammed and Sadiya Ibrahim Umar conspired and hid themselves in a friend’s house in Nugupi village. After some hours, Sadiya’s father was contacted by an anonymous caller who demanded for N5 million ransom. The sum was later renegotiated to N1 million naira which was dropped at a location in Rafin-yashi, Minna.
According to the police, Sadiya later re-emerged after which she was invited for questioning. She confessed to the crime and later, her husband was arrested as well.
See the full statement below;
NIGER POLICE ARREST COUPLE FOR CONSPIRACY AND SELF KIDNAPPING
On 22/07/2021 at about 1200hrs, Police Operatives attached to SCID Minna arrested two suspects; a husband and wife, namely;
(1) Mohammed Mohammed age 39yrs ‘m’
(2) Sadiya Ibrahim Umar, age 31yrs ‘f’ both of Limawa area of Minna.
It would be recalled that on 15/07/2021 at about 1200hrs, the said Sadiya was reported to have been kidnapped by unknown person(s) having boarded a tricycle at Challenge junction Maitumbi going to Old Airport road Minna after closing from work at Umar Bn khattab International School Maitumbi. On 16/07/2021, the father was contacted by an unknown caller demanding for N5million ransom which was later reduced to N1million and was dropped at a location in Rafin-yashi, Minna for the anonymous caller.
On 21/07/2021 at about 1000hrs, the said Sadiya re-surfaced and was invited by the Police for questioning. During interrogation, she confessed to have conspired with her husband ‘Mohammed’ to fake her kidnap and she was taken to Nugupi village via Paiko where she was kept by her husband at his friend’s place.
The husband also confessed to have collected the wife’s phone and handed over to one Abdullahi, his friend who negotiated and collected the ransom on his behalf, case under investigation while effort is ongoing to arrest the said Abdullahi. Suspects will be arraigned in court as soon as investigation is concluded.
Members of the public are advised to be calm and should not panic at every reported case of crime especially kidnapping, as some of the allaged crimes especially kidnapping are faked and done with the connivance of family members or close associates for monetary gains. This is the third of its kind in recent times where such crimes are faked. However, the Police will always be on top of every situation to guarantee security of lives and properties of Nigerlites
DSP WASIU A. ABIODUN,
POLICE PUBLIC RELATIONS OFFICER,
FOR: COMMISSIONER OF POLICE
NIGER STATE COMMAND
