A married woman, identified simply as Oluchi, who allegedly faked her abduction and demanded a N50 million ransom from her family, has been found in a hotel in Delta State with her lover.
Following the reported abduction, the woman’s children, including her daughter based in Canada, had appealed to the public for support to raise the ransom, which was later reduced by the supposed kidnappers to N20 million.
It was gathered that the children had informed the police that their mother was kidnapped around the Ikpoba Hill area of Ikpoba-Okha Local Government Area, but police investigations later uncovered that the supposed victim was staying with her lover in a hotel in Delta State.
“Police traced the man’s phone number to a hotel in Obiaroko, Delta State. They met the man and the kidnapped woman inside the 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, said her mother’s actions had 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 kidnapping 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 would 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 refunds. 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 had already raised to N20 million,” she said.
The Harmony Ladies Club, a social club Anita belongs to, in a statement dissociated itself from the staged kidnap saga, expressing deep disappointment, shock and embarrassment over 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 Edo State Police Command confirmed that four persons have been arrested in connection with the incident.
