Reported by: Ijeoma G | Edited by: Oravbiere Osayomore Promise.
The Ondo State Police Command has arrested a 33-year-old man, Olawale Sikiru, for allegedly orchestrating his own kidnapping and defrauding his family of N50,000 in a desperate scheme to extort money from his mother. Sikiru was apprehended alongside an accomplice, Agbelusi Ayomide, 23, who allegedly sheltered him while the fraudulent kidnapping was ongoing. The arrest, announced by the command's spokesperson, DSP Abayomi Jimoh, on Saturday, 11 July 2026, followed a report filed by the suspect's mother on 5 July, claiming her son had been kidnapped by unknown persons while on his way to Igbara-Oke for work.
According to the police, the mother reported that her son had been abducted and that his abductors were demanding a ransom of N1 million for his release. The command immediately launched a thorough investigation, deploying intelligence resources and conducting forensic analysis on the phone number used by the suspects to demand the ransom. The diligent investigation yielded results on 7 July, when detectives arrested Sikiru, who was found to have planned his own kidnapping. Further inquiries revealed that he had intentionally fabricated the abduction and had managed to collect N50,000 as part of the ransom from his family for his supposed release. Additional investigation led to the arrest of Agbelusi Ayomide, who allegedly conspired with Sikiru and sheltered him in his home while the fraudulent scheme was in progress.
Jimoh cautioned against the act of staging kidnappings for financial gain, warning that self-kidnapping incidents waste vital security resources, cause emotional and financial distress to families, and carry serious legal repercussions. He emphasized that the command remains steadfast in its dedication to fighting all types of crime through intelligence-driven policing. Efforts are still underway to capture other members of the group believed to have been involved in this criminal activity, and the arrested individuals will face charges in court once the investigation is complete. The command reassured the public of its commitment to protecting lives and property and encouraged residents to continue providing timely and reliable information to assist security agencies.
The arrest highlights the growing trend of self-kidnapping in Nigeria, where individuals fabricate abduction stories to extort money from their families or employers. Such schemes have become increasingly common as economic hardship pushes some to desperate measures, and authorities have warned that perpetrators will face the full weight of the law. The Ondo State Police Command has urged residents to remain vigilant and report any suspicious activities, assuring the public that all reports will be treated with utmost confidentiality and acted upon promptly.
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