A 31-year-old man, identified as Chukwemeka Destiny, has been arrested by the Nigeria Police Force in Delta State for allegedly attempting to arrange the kidnapping of his aunt who raised him from childhood.
The suspect was paraded on Saturday by Police Public Relations Officer, SP Edafe Bright, who said Destiny allegedly paid a total of N900,000 to individuals he believed were kidnappers to abduct the woman.
According to the police, the suspect first paid N200,000 as an initial deposit before sending another N700,000 to complete the arrangement. However, the plot was uncovered when the supposed kidnappers turned out to be informants who alerted security operatives.
Rather than carry out the crime, the men reportedly used the opportunity to track Destiny and handed him over to the police, preventing what authorities described as a potentially tragic outcome.
SP Bright described the incident as part of a disturbing trend of betrayal and violence against benefactors, noting that similar cases have involved individuals turning against employers or close associates for financial gain.
During interrogation, Destiny admitted involvement in the plot but claimed he could not explain his motivation, attributing his actions to external influence. He also said he is a married father of two and operates a haulage and building materials business, from which the funds were allegedly taken.
The victim, who confirmed she is Destiny’s maternal aunt, expressed shock over the incident, saying she had raised him from the age of five but lost contact after he left home as a teenager. She called for justice to take its full course.
Police authorities said the suspect remains in custody under the Raiders unit of the command as investigations continue.
