A man identified as Michael James has admitted to staging his own kidnapping in Delta State in an attempt to extort ₦25 million from his family.
According to the Delta State Police Command, James disappeared after leaving home to dispose of refuse on July 1. Instead of returning, he allegedly abandoned his wheelbarrow and hid in a nearby bush before contacting his mother to falsely claim that he had been abducted by kidnappers demanding ₦25 million for his release.
The suspect reportedly made several calls to his family, claiming he was being beaten by his captors and urging them to send ₦700,000. His family alerted the police, who immediately launched an investigation and tracked his location using intelligence.
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As security operatives closed in, James allegedly left his hiding place and later informed his family that he had escaped from the kidnappers. However, police investigations uncovered the deception, leading to his confession.
James told investigators that he planned the fake kidnapping because he owed his brother and sister money that he had already spent and had no means of repaying.
The Delta State Police Command said the case serves as a warning against staging false kidnapping incidents, stressing that such acts waste security resources and create unnecessary panic. Authorities added that investigations are ongoing and appropriate legal action will follow.
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