Delta Woman,54, Staged Own Kidnap to Extort ₦15m from Brother

The Delta State Police Command has arrested a 54-year-old woman for allegedly staging her own abduction in a calculated bid to extort ₦15 million from her younger brother.

The suspect, identified in reports as Umadi, was paraded by operatives of the Special Anti-Kidnapping Unit in Ubulu-Uku, Aniocha South Local Government Area. Police said the case was first reported on October 23, 2026, at the Ogwashi-Uku Divisional Police Headquarters as a suspected kidnapping.

According to the command’s Public Relations Officer, SP Bright Edafe, the Commissioner of Police directed the Anti-Kidnapping Unit to investigate after the woman contacted her brother claiming she had been seized by unknown gunmen while on her way to buy medicine. She told him the abductors had taken her into the bush and were demanding ₦15 million for her release, threatening to kill her if the ransom was not paid.

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An intelligence-led probe quickly established that the entire episode was fabricated.

Investigators discovered the woman had left home under the pretext of purchasing drugs and then telephoned her brother with the false abduction story. She later claimed she had remained “in captivity” for 12 days.

In a video confession released by the police, the suspect admitted: “I kidnapped myself. I told my brother I had been kidnapped when I went out to buy medicine, and it took me to the bush. I called my brother and told him. I told him they wanted N15m and that if he didn’t pay the money, they would kill me. It was the devil’s work. I want forgiveness.”

She said she needed the money to treat a painful leg condition. Edafe expressed surprise at the development, noting that previous cases of staged kidnappings handled by the command had mostly involved teenagers and young adults, not a woman in her mid-50s. “It is quite unfortunate that she faked her own kidnapping because she wanted to extort her younger brother a sum of N15m,” he said.

Police indicated the woman may not have acted alone and are tracking suspected accomplices.

The command has warned the public against staging criminal incidents or raising false alarms for financial gain, stressing that such acts divert security resources and will attract prosecution. The suspect is expected to be charged to court at the conclusion of investigations.