The Anti-Cultism Tactical Squad of the Enugu State Police Command has arrested four suspects for allegedly staging a kidnapping and defrauding the victim’s parents of N2 million.
The suspects are Chidera Godwin Ako (21)—the mastermind who faked his own abduction—Okechukwu Philip Chidalu (19), Ifeanyi Ugwu (20), and Ossai Chigozie (35), a former inmate recently released from the Nigerian Correctional Service.
They were apprehended at a POS centre in Enugu on May 24, 2025, while attempting to withdraw the ransom.
Police spokesman Daniel Ndukwe disclosed that Chidera was reported missing on May 4. His accomplices later sent a video to his parents on May 21, showing him tied up, appearing beaten, and threatened with a gun, while demanding N10 million in ransom. The parents paid N1.5 million on May 22, and another N500,000 when their son was not released.
Acting on intelligence, police operatives swooped in and arrested the suspects, recovering a locally made single-barrel gun and two live cartridges.
The suspects reportedly confessed to the crime and will be arraigned upon completion of investigations.
The Enugu State Commissioner of Police, Mamman Bitrus Giwa, condemned the crime, describing it as “unfortunate.” He ordered a thorough investigation to arrest all accomplices and advised the public to report suspicious kidnappings rather than rushing to pay ransoms, warning that some cases might be staged.
