The Delta State Police Command says it has uncovered an alleged self-kidnapping plot after a man identified as Michael James reportedly confessed to faking his abduction in an attempt to obtain N25 million from his family.
The confession was contained in a video shared by the command’s spokesperson, SP Bright Edafe, who said investigators uncovered the scheme after launching an operation to rescue the reported kidnap victim.
According to James, financial difficulties prompted him to stage the incident after he was unable to repay money owed to his brother and sister.
He claimed that on July 1, he left home to dispose of refuse but abandoned his wheelbarrow and hid in a nearby bush instead of returning.
The suspect said he later contacted his mother by telephone, informing her that he had been kidnapped and that his abductors were demanding N25 million for his release.
He also claimed during subsequent conversations that he was being beaten by the kidnappers and requested that N700,000 be paid to them.
James said he later became frightened after learning that the police and local vigilante groups had begun searching for him.
According to his account, he eventually left his hiding place, travelled to another location on a motorcycle and later informed his family that he had escaped from his captors.
Commenting on the case, SP Bright Edafe said the police immediately activated intelligence-gathering measures after receiving the distress report.
He said officers traced the suspect to the location where he was supposedly being held, but he emerged claiming he had escaped before allegedly admitting that the kidnapping had been fabricated.
The police spokesperson said investigations into the matter are ongoing.
The incident is one of several reported cases in recent years involving alleged fake kidnappings staged to extort money from relatives amid Nigeria’s ongoing security challenges.