Police arrest 18-year-old for staging own abduction in Edo<\/p>\n
The Edo Police Command has arrested 18-year-old Obehi Odine for staging her own kidnapping, while 11 others were arrested for their alleged involvement in a kidnapping syndicate.<\/p>\n
In a statement on Tuesday, the state command\u2019s Public Relations Officer, Eno Ikoedem, said exhibits, including firearms, were recovered during the operations.<\/p>\n
The statement read, \u201cA suspect, one Obehi Odine \u2018F\u2019, aged 18, was arrested for staging her own kidnap and demanding a ransom of \u20a610 million.<\/p>\n
She has confessed to the crime, admitting that the incident was deliberately fabricated to extort money.\u201d<\/p>\n
In a related operation in Ubiaja, the Command reported another major success through a bush-combing strategy.<\/p>\n
\u201cThe Divisional Police Officer, Ubiaja, personally led a coordinated bush-combing operation around Akwocha Camp and adjoining forest corridors, in collaboration with the Nigerian Military and the Edo State Security Corps (ESSC).<\/p>\n
\u201cA concealed forest enclave, identified by the drone squadron through intelligence generated from air surveillance as a suspected kidnapping and logistics base, was stormed.<\/p>\n
This resulted in the arrest of 11 male suspects believed to be members of an organised kidnapping syndicate.<\/p>\n
\u201cExhibits recovered include 24 dane guns, 17 cutlasses, three battle axes, gunpowder, torchlights, mobile phones, solar panels, assorted charms, one motorcycle, and \u20a6209,700 among other items.\u201d<\/p>\n
Meanwhile, the Commissioner of Police, Monday Agbonika, warned the public against making false kidnapping reports or engaging in other deceptive acts.<\/p>\n
He noted that such actions waste critical security resources, divert attention from genuine emergencies, create unnecessary panic, and undermine public confidence. \u201cAnyone caught will be prosecuted accordingly,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n
Agbonika reiterated the Command\u2019s resolve to sustain technology-driven policing, aggressive forest domination, and intelligence-led operations to dismantle criminal networks across the state.<\/p>\n
He also urged the public to continue supporting the Police with timely and credible information.<\/p>\n
The PUNCH had reported that gunmen suspected to be kidnappers demanded \u20a6100 million for the release of eight Imoga indigenes abducted on Friday night.<\/p>\n
The Okpahi of Imoga Kingdom, Oba Patrick Obajoye, disclosed this on Monday during a telephone conversation.<\/p>\n
He said the victims were kidnapped at Star Boy Hotel on Imoga-Ibillo Road in Edo North.<\/p>\n
Oba Obajoye explained that the victims had gone to Ibillo for a function and decided to lodge overnight at the Star Boy Hotel, which also belongs to an indigene of Imoga.<\/p>\n
He added that the kidnappers arrived at the hotel in army uniforms, bringing drinks, and pretended to be waiting for someone.(Punch)<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
Police arrest 18-year-old for staging own abduction in Edo The Edo Police Command has arrested 18-year-old Obehi Odine for staging her own kidnapping, while 11 others were arrested for their alleged involvement in a kidnapping syndicate. In a statement on Tuesday, the state command\u2019s Public Relations Officer, Eno Ikoedem, said exhibits, including firearms, were recovered […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":4,"featured_media":149731,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[1],"tags":[2655,593,2656],"class_list":{"0":"post-149730","1":"post","2":"type-post","3":"status-publish","4":"format-standard","5":"has-post-thumbnail","7":"category-others","8":"tag-18-year-old","9":"tag-abduction","10":"tag-edo-state-police-command"},"yoast_head":"\n