Married woman who staged own kidnap found in Delta hotel

A married woman identified as Oluchi has been discovered in a hotel in Delta state after allegedly staging her own kidnapping and demanding a ₦50 million ransom from her family.

The incident began after her relatives, including her daughter based in Canada, raised alarm that she had been abducted in the Ikpoba Hill area of Ikpoba-Okha Local Government Area of Edo state.

The family reportedly pleaded with the public for assistance as kidnappers initially demanded ₦50 million before reducing the ransom to ₦20 million.

However, police investigations later traced the case to Delta state, where operatives reportedly found the woman in a hotel with her lover.

A police source said the breakthrough followed tracking of a phone number linked to the case.

“Police traced the number of the man to a hotel in Ubiaroko, Delta State. They met the man and the woman inside a hotel,” the source said.

According to the source, the husband was informed and later expressed relief, while the truth about the staged abduction was revealed at the police station.

In a related development, Oluchi’s daughter, Anita, who lives in Canada, said the incident has caused deep emotional damage to the family, insisting they were initially unaware the kidnapping was fake.

The Harmony Ladies Club, a social group the daughter belongs to, also dissociated itself from the incident, expressing disappointment over the development after reportedly mobilising support during what was believed to be a real abduction.

Eno Ikoedem, Edo state police spokesperson confirmed that four persons have been arrested in connection with the case.