Police arrest lady ‘who staged kidnap and demanded N10m ransom’

The Lagos state police command says its has arrested one Ataghar Namdoo for faking her own kidnap.

The 26-year-old lady allegedly conspired with Emmanuel Idu, her boyfriend, and one Okpe David to stage the kidnap on January 9.

Bala Elkana, Lagos police spokesman, said the aim of the trio was to extort N10 million from Namdoo’s employer.

“On 16/1/2020 at about 2200hours, Operatives from Anti Kidnapping Unit, Lagos State Police Command arrested one Ataghar Namdoo ‘f’ 26years old for faking her own kidnap,” the statement read.

“On  9/1/2020 at about 1730hours, the suspect conspired with her boyfriend Emmanuel Idu and Okpe David to produce a short video of herself blindfolded and driven to a bush in a truck.

“In the second video, the girl a mother of one, was seen in a bush at Sangotedo area Ajah threatened by a man wearing  a mask and holding a Jack knife. Police later identified the masked  man as Emmanuel Idu who is the boyfriend of the girl. The abductors were demanding for ten million naira as ransom in the video.

“The two videos were send to the employer of the lady with a threat to kill her and to also go after the family of the employer if the ransom is not paid. Frightened by the threat contained in the video and the follow up calls, the said employer who is into fleet business, reported  the case to the police.  On the receipt of the case, the commissioner of police,  CP Hakeem Odumosu psc ordered the anti kidnapping unit to carry out an in depth investigate into the case. The videos were thoroughly analysed alongside other vital leads.”

The police said a well coordinated operation was put in place which led to the rescue of the self arranged victim of the abduction and the arrest of David, one of the two suspects whom the police are trying to verify his claim of being a military official.

Idu is said to be on the run, and the police have launched a manhunt.

The police said David confessed to have provided the truck used in driving the girl to the bush.

“The truck was actually driven by him,” the statement read.

“He also did the video recordings send to the employer of the Lady. The three suspects all come from the state of origin, Benue State. They have known each other for so many years. Both the lady and the man arrested confessed to the commission of the crime.

“That there aim is to extort money from the girl’s employer which they intend to share among themselves. It is worthy  to note that, it is a criminal offence for anyone to fake his or her kidnapping. Under the Lagos State laws, the offender upon conviction, is liable to 14 years imprisonment. The suspects will be charged to court.”