Fake Kidnap Plot: Police Arrest Two Women in Benue Over Alleged Ransom Scheme -

The Benue State Police Command has arrested two women for allegedly staging a fake kidnapping in a bid to extort money from a family.

The command’s spokesperson, DSP Peter Aondongu, disclosed this in a statement issued in Makurdi, revealing that the suspects orchestrated the scheme to deceive the victim’s relatives into paying ransom.

According to the police, one of the suspects, Mary Torkuma, a resident of Akpehe in Makurdi, left her home on July 12, 2026, under the pretense of visiting a friend, Evergreen Samuel, at the North Bank area of the state capital.

Shortly after her departure, Torkuma’s mother, who resides in Lagos State, reportedly received a call from an unknown number claiming that her daughter had been kidnapped and demanding ransom for her release.

Acting on the report, operatives of the Command’s Violence Crime Response Unit launched an intelligence-led investigation.

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Their efforts led them to a hotel located in the Ankpa Quarters area of Makurdi, where Torkuma was found safe alongside her alleged accomplice, Samuel.

Further investigations revealed that both women allegedly conspired to fabricate the kidnapping story in order to extort money from Torkuma’s mother.

The police also confirmed that Samuel had travelled from Abia State to participate in the scheme.
Both suspects are currently in police custody, and authorities say they will be charged to court upon the conclusion of investigations.

Reacting to the incident, the Commissioner of Police, Cletus Nwadiogbu, warned residents against engaging in criminal acts such as staging fake kidnappings. He noted that such actions not only constitute serious offenses but also divert critical security resources away from genuine emergencies.

The command reiterated its commitment to intelligence-driven policing and urged members of the public to remain vigilant and report suspicious activities to the nearest police station.