Police operatives from the Anti Kidnapping Unit, Lagos State Command, have arrested a 26-year old lady, Ataghar Namdoo, for allegedly faking her own kidnap with her lover in order to extort N10m ransom from her boss.
It was disclosed by the Police Public Relation Officer, DSP Bala Elkana. He said that on 9th January, 2020, at about 1730hours, the suspect conspired with her boyfriend, Emmanuel Idu, and Okpe David, to produce a short video of her blindfolded and driven to a bush in a truck.
In the second video, the lady, who is a mother of one, was seen in a bush at Sangotedo area of Ajah threatened by a man wearing a mask and holding a Jack knife.
However, the Police later identified the masked man as Emmanuel Idu, who is the boyfriend of the lady. The abductors were demanding for N10m as ransom in the video. The two videos were sent to the lady’s employer 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. On the receipt of the case, the Commissioner of Police, CP Hakeem Odumosu, ordered the Anti kidnapping Unit to carry out an indepth investigation into 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 self arranged victim of the abduction and the arrest of one of the two suspects, Okpe David.
The Command has taken steps to verify the claim made by Okpe David that he is military personnel. The Police have equally launched a manhunt for the second male suspect, Emmanuel Idu, who is on the run.
During interrogation, Okpe David 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 lady’s employer. The three suspects are all of Benue State origin. They have known each other for so many years.
DSP Elkana stated that both the lady and the man arrested had confessed to the commission of the crime; that their aim was to extort money from the lady’s employer, which they intend to share among themselves. He said that it was worthy to note that, it is a criminal offence for anyone to fake his or her kidnap under the Lagos State law.
The offender upon conviction, is liable to 14years imprisonment. He said that the suspects will be charged to Court after the conclusion of investigation.
