Ondo Police Arrest 29-Year-Old Man for Staging Own Kidnap to Defraud Family, Friends
Admin 16th August, 2025
The Ondo State Police Command has uncovered a bizarre case of self-kidnap, arresting one Bello Azeez, a 29-year-old native of Ipele in Owo Local Government Area, for allegedly faking his own abduction to extort ₦500,000 from his parents and friends.
According to a statement issued by the Police Public Relations Officer, DSP Ayanlade Olayinka, the suspect hatched the fraudulent scheme after his father refused to give him money to offset a debt. In pursuit of the plan, Azeez on 11th August, 2025, pretended to be travelling to Ibadan before placing distress calls to his relatives and acquaintances, claiming he had been kidnapped.
Alarmed by the alleged abduction, his family and friends mobilized resources and even launched a GoFundMe campaign through which they successfully raised ₦500,000 to secure his release. The suspect then directed that the ransom be transferred into his personal bank account, a move that aroused suspicion among his relatives.
On receiving the report, operatives of the Command tracked the phone number used and discovered that Azeez had been in Owo throughout the period of the supposed kidnap. He was promptly arrested and confessed to the crime. Police authorities confirmed that he will be charged to court at the conclusion of the investigation.
The Command described the incident as a clear example of how greed and deceit can push individuals into acts capable of destroying their future. Parents and guardians were urged to guide their children against crime, peer influence, and moral decadence.
The Police reaffirmed their commitment to intelligence-led policing and community partnership in ensuring safety, while stressing that criminality in any form will not be tolerated in Ondo State.
