Woman Arrested for Staging Her Own Kidnap to Extort ₦50m from Family in Edo

The Edo State Police Command has uncovered an elaborate kidnapping hoax orchestrated by a 45-year-old woman, Mrs. Oluchi Ugbowan, who conspired with accomplices to defraud her family of ₦50 million using fabricated abduction videos.

**BENIN CITY** — A staged kidnapping scheme has been foiled by the Edo State Police Command following the arrest of a woman, Mrs. Oluchi Ugbowan, and three accomplices who faked her abduction to extort ₦50 million from her family and members of the public.

The bizarre plot came to light after the suspect's husband, Mr. Tony Ugbowan, filed a missing person’s report on June 1, 2026. He informed the police that his wife had been kidnapped on May 28 while on her way to her shop at Ramat Park, along Agbor Road in Benin City. According to Mr. Ugbowan, he later received a call from an unidentified number demanding a ₦50 million ransom for her safe release.

Following the report, operatives of the Edo State Police Command’s Anti-Kidnapping Unit launched an intelligence-driven investigation. The breakthrough came when officers arrested 28-year-old Israel Ability at Ramat Park and recovered the "victim’s" mobile phone from him.

During interrogation, Ability confessed that he had been contracted by Mrs. Ugbowan to act as the kidnapper, negotiate the ransom with her family, and maintain the illusion that she was in captivity.

The investigation subsequently led operatives to a hotel in Ukwuani Local Government Area of Delta State, where Mrs. Ugbowan was tracked down and arrested on June 5. Upon questioning, she admitted to staging the abduction to obtain money from her relatives.

Officers also raided the residence of another suspect, 38-year-old Ochukwudem Uwadia, in Delta State. Police revealed that Uwadia’s home was used as the location to shoot the fake hostage videos circulated to the family. A pump-action gun featured in the ransom videos was recovered during a search of the premises.

The staged abduction had gained public sympathy after Mrs. Ugbowan’s daughter, known on Instagram as Majesty Bundle, unknowingly fell for the hoax and launched an online crowdfunding appeal to raise the ₦50 million ransom.

Following the police revelation, the distraught daughter issued a public apology to Nigerians, stating that she and her family were entirely unaware of her mother's deceit. She expressed shock at the development and promised to refund those who had contributed to the fake ransom appeal.

The Edo State Police Command confirmed that all suspects involved in the syndicate have confessed to the crime and will be prosecuted in accordance with the law.

Authorities have commended the Anti-Kidnapping Unit for their professionalism in unravelling the elaborate deception, warning that the police will continue to deal decisively with individuals who exploit the state's security challenges for criminal financial gain.