How Oluchi Ugbowan staged her own kidnap in ₦50m ransom plot

The Edo State Police Command has uncovered an elaborate kidnapping hoax masterminded by Mrs. Oluchi Ugbowan and her accomplices in a bid to extort ₦50 million from her family, leading to the arrest of four suspects and the recovery of a firearm used to produce fake ransom videos.

The command disclosed that the scheme came to light following a report filed by Mr. Tony Ugbowan of Agbor Road, Benin City, who informed police that his wife, Mrs. Oluchi Ugbowan, had been kidnapped while on her way to her shop at Ramat Park.

According to the police, Mr. Ugbowan reported that on May 28, 2026, he received a call from an unidentified number demanding ₦50 million for his wife’s release.

Acting on the complaint, operatives of the Edo State Police Command’s Anti-Kidnapping Unit launched an intensive investigation, deploying intelligence and technical resources to verify the circumstances surrounding the alleged abduction.

The investigation led to the arrest of 28-year-old Israel Ability at Ramat Park, Benin City. During the operation, officers recovered the mobile phone belonging to the purported victim from the suspect.

Police said that during interrogation, Ability confessed that he had been recruited by Mrs. Ugbowan to act as a negotiator and communicate ransom demands to her family while presenting her as a kidnap victim.

The breakthrough prompted investigators to extend their operation to Delta State, where Mrs. Ugbowan was eventually tracked and arrested on June 5 at a hotel in Ukwuani Local Government Area.

According to the command, the suspect allegedly admitted during questioning that she staged her own kidnapping as part of a plan to obtain money from her relatives.

Further investigations led officers to the residence of another suspect, 38-year-old Ochukwudem Uwadia, also in Delta State.

Police investigations revealed that the residence served as the location where videos purportedly showing the victim in captivity were produced and circulated to family members to support the ransom demands.

The command further disclosed that Uwadia’s 18-year-old son, Chibuzor Ochukwudem, allegedly participated in the scheme and was the individual seen in the videos pointing a firearm at Mrs. Ugbowan’s head to create the impression that she was being held by kidnappers.

All four suspects have since been arrested in connection with the alleged conspiracy.

A search conducted at the premises resulted in the recovery of an automatic pump-action gun believed to have been used during the production of the ransom videos.

Reacting to the development, the Commissioner of Police in Edo State, CP Monday Agbonika, commended the Anti-Kidnapping Unit for what he described as a thorough and professional investigation that exposed the alleged deception.

He reiterated the command’s commitment to treating every reported kidnapping case with urgency and seriousness, noting that significant resources are often deployed to rescue victims and apprehend criminals.

The police commissioner also warned members of the public against engaging in fake kidnapping schemes, stressing that such actions constitute serious criminal offences and divert security resources away from genuine victims in need of assistance.

“The Command remains committed to ensuring that all individuals involved in criminal activities are brought to justice. False kidnapping claims not only create unnecessary panic but also undermine efforts to combat real security challenges,” he said.

The Edo State Police Command urged residents to continue supporting law enforcement agencies by reporting suspicious activities promptly and refraining from actions capable of causing public fear or disrupting security operations.

Police authorities said investigations are ongoing and that the suspects will be charged in accordance with the law upon conclusion of the inquiry.