A 26-year-old woman, Ataghar Namdoo, is currently in the custody of the Nigerian Police Force for allegedly arranging her own kidnap with her boyfriend in order to extort N10m from her employer.
According to spokesperson for the Lagos State Police Command, Bala Elkana, Namdoo connived with her boyfriend, Emmanuel Idu, and a self-acclaimed military personnel, David Okpe, who recorded a video of her being blindfolded and sent the same to her employer.
The suspects were arrested by operatives of the Anti-Kidnapping Unit of the Lagos State Police Command.
Elkana said that in a second video, Namdoo, a mother of one, was seen in a bush at the Sangotedo area of Ajah, Lagos, being threatened by a man wearing a mask and holding a jack knife. Elkana added that during investigation, the police identified the masked man as Idu.
He said, “The abductors were demanding N10m as ransom in the video. The two videos were sent to the employer of the woman, with a threat to kill her and to also go after the family of the employer if the ransom was not paid.
“Frightened by the threat contained in the video and the follow-up calls, the said employer, who is into fleet business, reported the case to the police.
“Upon receipt of the case, the Commissioner of Police, Hakeem Odumosu, ordered the Anti-Kidnapping unit to investigate the case. The videos were thoroughly analysed, alongside other vital leads. A well-coordinated operation was put in place, which led to the successful rescue of the ‘victim’ of the abduction and the arrest of Okpe.
“The Command has taken steps to verify the claim made by Okpe that he is a military personnel. Police have equally launched a hunt for the second male suspect, Emmanuel Idu, who is on the run. Okpe confessed to have provided the truck used in driving the girl to the bush.
“The truck was actually driven by him. He also did the video recordings sent to the employer of the woman. The three suspects are from Benue State. They have known one another for many years. Both the woman and man arrested confessed to commission of the crime.
“They said their aim was to extort money from the girl’s employer and share it among themselves.
