Ondo couple nabbed for staging fake Kidnap to extort Name ransom
Ondo couple nabbed for staging fake Kidnap to extort Name ransom
Police in Ondo State have arrested a 42-year-old woman, Mrs. Sanmori Taiwo, and her 62-year-old husband, Pastor Sanmori Olubumi Joshua, for allegedly orchestrating a fake kidnap plot to demand N10 million ransom from her relatives living abroad.
DSP Olushola Ayanlade, the Command’s Spokesperson, confirmed the development in a statement released on Wednesday in Akure, noting that the incident occurred on August 23 between 4 p.m. and 5 p.m. at the couple’s residence on Road 5, PowerLine, Ondo City.
According to Ayanlade, Taiwo deliberately hid in a separate room after conspiring with her husband to fake her abduction.
Her husband subsequently contacted her relatives, using her phone number, and claimed she had been kidnapped by unknown gunmen who were demanding N10 million ransom for her release.
The statement read: “Suspicious of the claims, one of the relatives, Mr. Fasegha O. Joseph, petitioned the Commissioner of Police, CP Adebowale Lawal, who immediately directed the Command’s Special Anti-Kidnapping Squad (SAKS) to investigate.
“Acting swiftly, an investigation team from the squad, supported by Enu-owa Division in Ondo City, stormed Sanmori’s residence in Ondo Town, where Mrs. Taiwo was found.
“She falsely claimed to have just been released by kidnappers after a ransom of Five Million Naira had allegedly been paid.
“However, upon further interrogation at the Command, Mrs. Taiwo confessed that the abduction was staged as a self-kidnap plot, masterminded to extort money from her relatives abroad under the guise of securing her freedom.”
Ayanlade added that Taiwo further admitted her motive was to settle debts and cater for her personal needs.
He said both Taiwo and her husband are currently under investigation and will face the full weight of the law.
The Police Spokesperson stressed that the case reflects the unyielding commitment of the Ondo State Police Command under CP Adebowale Lawal.
“We will continue to unravel all forms of criminality, whether real or staged, to preserve peace, protect lives, and safeguard the integrity of communities across the state,” he added.
