The Ondo State Police Command has arrested a 22-year-old truck driver, Tobi Oluwatuyi, and two of his friends for allegedly masterminding a fake kidnapping to extort N1.5 million from his family.
The suspects, identified as 20-year-old Jubril Abu and 21-year-old Segun Oluwatuyi, were arrested after a concerned citizen reported to the Special Anti-Kidnapping Squad that Tobi had been abducted from the Ilu Abo area of Akure.
According to a police source, detectives immediately launched an investigation, which later revealed that the supposed victim had conspired with his two friends to stage the abduction. The trio allegedly planned the act to extract ransom money, which Tobi’s unsuspecting family paid, believing he had truly been kidnapped.
Confirming the incident, the spokesperson for the Ondo State Police Command, Ayanlade Olayinka, described the act as a calculated plot to fraudulently obtain money. He said all three suspects had confessed to the crime.
Olayinka added that the suspects would be charged in court upon completion of the investigation. He urged members of the public to report kidnapping cases promptly and allow trained investigators to handle such matters, warning against hastily paying ransoms.
He further cautioned against the growing trend of self-orchestrated kidnappings, stressing that such acts are criminal and will always be exposed through diligent police work. The spokesperson reiterated that perpetrators would face the full weight of the law.
Olayinka reassured residents that Ondo State will not be a haven for criminals, adding that the Command remains committed to safeguarding lives and property.
