Police arrest four over fake kidnap, demand of N5m ransom

Lagos Police Command has announced the arrest of four women for allegedly faking the kidnap of one Agnes Ogbeh and demanding the sum of N5 million as ransom.

Margret Itodo ‘f’ aged 25, Agnes Ogbeh ‘f’ aged 23, Esther Anyanwu ‘f’ aged 24 and Anthony Chinakwe ‘m’ aged 24 arrested for fake kidnap and demand of N5m ransom

According to the police, on March 19, 2024, Agnes Ogbeh, resident in Akure, had travelled to Lagos and was reportedly kidnapped in Lagos. The family back in Akure received a video showing Agnes and one other tied, gagged, and groaning with blood droplets around them. The ‘kidnappers’ demanded the sum of N5 million for the release of Agnes.

The police added further that the suspects identified as Margret Itodo ‘f’ aged 25, Agnes Ogbeh ‘f’ aged 23, Esther Anyanwu ‘f’ aged 24 and Anthony Chinakwe ‘m’ aged 24 for faking the kidnap of Agnes Ogbeh, have been arrested.

“Upon receipt of the complaint, detectives of the Command commenced a discreet and diligent investigation into the matter. The hideout was located where Agnes, the other lady in the video and two others were found living freely together.

“Further investigations revealed that Margaret Itodo is a professional make-up artist who was hired to make the video look real. All four have made confessional statements and are to be arraigned at the conclusion of investigation,” the statement read.

State Police spokesperson, Benjamin Hundeyin said the Police Commissioner, CP Adegoke Fayoade, ‘while commending the detectives for a timely investigation calls on Lagosians to be vigilant and report any suspicious activity around them to the nearest security agency.’