By Ozioruva Aliu
BENIN CITY —THE Edo State Police command, yesterday, said it uncovered a case of feigned kidnap by a 27-year-old housewife with a view to extorting her husband.
The police identified the woman as Chioma Adaniken and her cousin, Osita Godfrey, who had pretended to be negotiating with the kidnappers, while the N5 million paid as ransom to secure the release the woman and her son was recovered.
A statement by the Deputy Police Public Relations Officer, Eno Ikoedem, said it was the husband, Paul Adaniken, who reported the incident at the New Etete Police Station, which made the police swung into action only to discover that Godfrey, who was presenting himself as a negotiator was actually an accomplice.
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The statement by the police said: “On October 27, 2025, one Paul Adaniken of 111, Limit Road, off Sapele Road, Benin City, reported at New Etete Police Division that about 0730hrs, he left his wife, Chioma Adaniken, aged 27, and their three-year-old son, Andrea Ojiezelabor, at home before proceeding to his shop.
“Later that day, about 1200hrs, he received a phone call from an unknown number informing him that his wife and son had been kidnapped, with the abductors demanding a ransom of N5 million for their release.
“Upon receipt of the complaint, detectives from New Etete Division immediately commenced covert and overt investigations, while the command’s Anti-Kidnapping Unit launched a full-scale cyber analysis and the intelligence-led operations that yielded a major breakthrough revealing startling details: the victim’s cousin, Osita Godfrey aged 33, who was earlier believed to be assisting with information, was arrested and found to be complicit in the crime.
“His confessional statement led to the arrest of the supposed victim, Chioma, who conspired with her accomplices to stage her own abduction in order to extort money from her husband.”
The statement said another suspect, Martins Chidozie, aged 23, was also arrested in connection with the crime.
She said the case has been transferred to the State Criminal Investigation Department, SCID.
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