By Hassan Zaggi
The Nigeria Police Force has kicked against the recent trends of self-kidnapping in the country, insisting that it is a punishable offence under the law.
It, therefore, warned the public against engaging in the criminal act, saying that there are stiff legal consequences when caught.
In a statement in Abuja on Tuesday, the Force Spokesman, Muyiwa Adejobi (ACP), disclosed that the warning was triggered following what he described as “observed incidents of self-kidnapping in various locations, with suspects apprehended in Lagos and Abuja.”
ACP Adejobi further explained that: “In Lagos, a couple was arrested for alleged self-kidnapping scheme aimed at obtaining a N5 million ransom recently.
“The husband, Doubara David Yabrifa, a 53-year-old technician, and the wife Regina Yabrifa, a 48-year-old body massager and bone setter, were apprehended after a family member reported the purported kidnapping.
“The couple confessed to planning the self-kidnap to raise N3 million to purchase a property in Badagry, Lagos. The husband justified the act, citing financial difficulties and lack of support from relatives. Both were arrested and subsequently charged to court.
He also revealed that: “One Albarka Sukuya of Jenta Apata, Jos, has been notorious for staging his kidnap on several occasions and received ransoms from unsuspecting members of the community in Plateau State.
“Similarly, on January 20, 2024, a young man, Nnamdi Agu, faked his kidnap in Abuja in an attempt to defraud one of his family members who resides around River Park Estate, Abuja, to make money to pay for his personal pleasures.
“The Police, in a swift response, foiled the staged kidnapping, and arrested the suspect. It is obvious that the suspect and many others leverage on the prevailing instances of kidnapping and plan to engage in such criminal and deceptive acts of staged or self-kidnapping to make money.”
These three cases, according to the Force Spokesman, are a few of similar cases recorded in some states, that have been thwarted by the Police.
ACP Adejobi, therefore, warned that: “The Force hereby cautions members of the public to be wary of this trend while those with intent to venture into these criminal acts should desist as the police will leave no stone unturned to cause such suspects to face the full wrath of the law.
“Equally, we vehemently encourage the media and social media influencers, bloggers, etc., to constantly verify news before broadcasting such, not to create panic and jeopardize our security arrangements.”
