The Edo State Police Command has arrested a married woman, simply identified as Mrs. Oluchi, and her alleged lover over a case of self-kidnap.

Mrs. Oluchi was tracked down at a hotel in Obiaruku, Ukwuani local government area of Delta State, where she was cooling off with her lover while awaiting the delivery of the N20 million ransom they had demanded from her family.

It was gathered that the duo had demanded for N50 million ransom but settled for N20m after much negotiation.

Oluchi’s children, including her Canada-based daughter, Anita, had desperately resorted to crowd funding to raise the N20 million demanded by the purported kidnappers after a downwards negotiation from N50m.

They had told the police that their mother was kidnapped at the Ikpoba-Hill area in Ikpoba-Okha local government area of Edo State.
Police investigation however led its crack team to Obiaruku where the supposed kidnapped woman was found with her lover in a hotel.
An informed source hinted that the “Police traced the number of the man to a hotel in Obiaruku, Delta State. They met the man and the kidnapped woman inside a hotel. They called the husband and he was happy. It was when he got to the station that the police broke the sad news to him. The wife begged the husband not to tell her children what actually transpired.”

Reacting to the development, Anita said her mum’s action has shattered the family. She vowed that the family would allow the law to take its course.

According to her, “My mum has been released. There has been involvement of my mum in this kidnap case. I only did what I did to save my mum. The family is in shock. This is not right. This has shattered my family. My dad has some health issues. This is so unfortunate. What did I do wrong? My reputation has been ruined. I am short of words. I am so mad. I have no hand in this. I never knew. I only wanted my mum back home. The law will take its course. I am sorry this is happening. I only did what any daughter will do. My family has been shattered.

“We were called that my mum has been released. We didn’t pay the kidnappers. The money is intact. We are going to make a refund. We involved the Police from the beginning. We now know it was not a real kidnapping. They said my mum is involved. They are having a relationship. The guy was traced. They had agreed to take what we already raised to N20m.”

The Harmony Ladies Club, a social club Anita belongs to, in a statement, dissociated itself from the staged kidnap saga.

It expressed deep disappointment, shock, and embarrassment over the actions of Mrs. Oluchi.
“When news of her alleged abduction broke, the club acted swiftly in absolute good faith. Out of sisterhood, love, and community responsibility, we rallied together immediately.

“Our members provided extensive emotional, logistical, and financial support during what we believed was a life-threatening crisis, carrying the heavy burden of anxiety alongside her family.

“It is with a profound sense of betrayal that we have now discovered, through official investigations, that the entire kidnapping incident was completely faked and staged by Mrs. Oluchi herself.”

Edo Police spokesman, Eno Ikoedem, confirmed the incident and said four persons have been arrested in connection with it.