By Tola Gbadamosi
Operatives of the Edo State Police Command have arrested a 27-year old woman, Chioma Ezebie, for allegedly masterminding her own kidnapping alongside that of her three-year old son to extort ₦5 million from her husband.
According to police reports, Chioma staged the fake abduction on October 27, 2025, and later ensured her husband, Paul Adaniken, received a distress call from a man identified as Martins Chidozie, claiming that his wife and child had been kidnapped.
Alarmed by the call, Adaniken promptly reported the incident to the police, triggering a swift investigation by the Anti-Kidnapping Unit. Utilising cyber and intelligence tracking tools, detectives traced the operation to Chioma’s cousin, 33-year old Osita Godfrey, who was found to have played a key role in the plot.
Deputy Police Public Relations Officer, ASP Eno Ikoedem, confirmed that Godfrey’s confession led to Chioma’s arrest.
Investigations revealed that Chioma conspired with her accomplices to fake her abduction and extort ₦5 million from her husband,” Ikoedem stated.
The police have since recovered the ransom and transferred the case to the State Criminal Investigation Department (SCID) for further investigation and prosecution.
Meanwhile, the State Commissioner of Police, CP Monday Agbonika, commended the swift action of officers from the New Etete Division and cautioned residents against criminal acts capable of breaching public peace.
He further assured that the Command remains committed to deploying intelligence-led and technology-driven strategies to combat crime across Edo State.