A 27-year-old woman, Merit Alice, has been arrested by the Delta State Police Command for allegedly faking her own kidnapping after spending N3.6 million meant for a business transaction on her bridal shower and hotel accommodation.
According to police spokesperson SP Bright Edafe, Alice orchestrated the fake abduction alongside two accomplices after her brother began demanding the refund of the money he had entrusted to her to purchase a tricycle.
Speaking in a video shared on social media platform X (formerly Twitter), Edafe explained that the incident occurred on July 20 when Alice told her husband she was on her way, only for him to later receive news of her supposed abduction. The kidnappers demanded a ransom of N3 million, which her husband and family members eventually raised and paid.
The case was subsequently reported to the Special Anti-Kidnapping and Cybercrime Squad. Investigations led to the arrest of one of the accomplices, who later confessed to the staged kidnapping.
Alice admitted to the crime, stating that the ransom was shared among the conspirators. “My husband and my brothers raised the N3 million ransom that we demanded. I went to a POS shop and withdrew N2.5 million for myself, while my accomplices got N500,000,” she confessed.
She also identified one of her co-conspirators as Peter, a former security guard at her previous workplace. Alice said she deeply regretted her actions and blamed mounting pressure from her brother to return the funds as the motive behind the scam.
SP Edafe commended the efforts of the investigative team, noting that justice would be served. The suspects are expected to face prosecution in court.
