Police Arrests Woman, Accomplices for Faking Abduction for N3m Ransom in Delta

A woman who allegedly faked her own kidnap and collected a ransom of N3 million naira which she shared with her accomplices, has been arrested by operatives of the Delta State Police Command.

The woman simply identified as Merit Eleh, aged 29 years old, was nabbed with two of her accomplices, Alfred Elisha and Ugochukwu Adim at Koka Roundabout, and off DLA Road, Asaba, respectively on 22 July 2025 at about 0900hrs.

State Police Public Relations Officer SP Bright Edafe who confirmed this in a statement, on Monday, said that the arrest came as the Delta State Police Command continues to record operational milestones in its relentless war against crime and criminality in the state.

He said that in the latest operation, operatives of the Command successfully arrested a suspected fake kidnapper and her accomplices.

According to him, On 21st July 2025 at about 2030hrs, the Delta State Police Command received a report of a kidnapping incident involving a female victim who was abducted by unknown armed men in the Bonsaac area of Asaba.

Edafe disclosed that acting promptly on the report, the Commissioner of Police, CP Olufemi Abaniwonda, directed the Commander Special Anti-Kidnapping and Cyber Crime Squad, CSP Godwin Osadolor, to ensure that the victim is rescued unhurt.

He said that acting on the directive, the command led operatives and launched a coordinated intelligence-driven operation.

Edafe further said, “Through diligent investigative efforts and strategic deployment, the operatives apprehended one Alfred Elisha ‘m’ at Koka Roundabout, Asaba, and another suspect, Ugochukwu Adim ‘m’, off DLA Road, Asaba, on 22 July 2025 at about 0900hrs.

“Upon arrest of the suspects, he confessed that it was not a case of an actual kidnapping but a plot between the victim and himself. His revelation led to the arrest of the other suspect, named Merit Eleh, aged 29 years old.

“She confessed that the money loaned to her by her brother of about three million six hundred thousand naira (#3,600,000), she used it to sponsor her bridal shower and hotel expenses during her wedding, which took place in March 2025.

“She further stated that she faked her kidnap and received a ransom of three million naira (#3,000,000) and gave her accomplices five hundred thousand naira (#500,000), and she took two million, five hundred thousand naira (#2,5000,000) for herself. All suspects involved have been arrested, and the investigation is ongoing”, the police spokesman added in the statement.