Woman arrested in Edo State for staging her own kidnapping for N5m ransom

‎Edo State Police, have arrested a 27-year-old woman, Chioma Success, for allegedly staging her own kidnapping, in connivance with two accomplices; Martins Chidozie, and Osita Godfrey, including the victim’s cousin, to extort a N5 million ransom from her husband.
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ASP Eno Ikoedem, the state command’s deputy spokesperson, confirmed that the cousin’s confessional statement led directly to the arrest of Chioma Success, who conspired with her accomplices to stage her own abduction in order to extort money from her husband.
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Kidnapping self for ransom, also known as “self-kidnapping”, has become a fast growing pervasive trend across various regions of Nigeria, majorly driven by greed and unresolved disputes.
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The police investigation began on October 27, 2025, when Paul Adaniken reported that his wife and young son were allegedly abducted from their home. He subsequently received calls demanding a N5 million ransom.
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Authorities initially focused on rescuing the supposed victims. However, the police grew suspicious of the victim’s cousin, Osita Godfrey, who was believed to be assisting with information.
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The suspects, including the wife and her two accomplices, have been transferred to the State Criminal Investigation Department (SCID) for further investigation and subsequent prosecution. 
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