Two women have been arrested by the Benue State Police Command for allegedly staging a fake kidnap in a desperate bid to extort ransom from a family.
The suspects, identified as Mary Torkuma and Evergreen Samuel, were arrested after police uncovered the alleged plot and found the supposed kidnap victim hiding in a hotel in Makurdi.
Police spokesperson, DSP Peter Aondongu, disclosed the arrest in a statement on Wednesday.
According to him, Torkuma, who lives in Akpehe, Makurdi, left home on July 12, 2026, claiming she was visiting her friend, Samuel, in the North Bank area of the state capital.
But instead of returning home, the duo allegedly hatched a plan to convince Torkuma’s family that she had been kidnapped so they could demand ransom.
The plot took a dramatic turn when Torkuma’s mother, who lives in Lagos State, received a call from an unknown number a day later claiming her daughter had been abducted and demanding payment for her release.
Following the report, operatives of the Command’s Violence Crime Response Unit launched an intelligence-led operation that tracked the suspects to a hotel in the Ankpa Quarters area of Makurdi.
Officers reportedly found Torkuma safe and sound with Samuel, who had travelled from Abia State to allegedly help execute the fake kidnap.
Police said investigations revealed the pair conspired to stage the abduction in an attempt to swindle Torkuma’s mother.
Both suspects are in police custody and will be arraigned after investigations are concluded.
Reacting to the incident, Commissioner of Police Cletus Nwadiogbu warned residents against faking kidnappings or engaging in any criminal act, stressing that such schemes divert security personnel from genuine emergencies.
The command also urged members of the public to remain vigilant and report suspicious activities, reaffirming its commitment to intelligence-driven policing across the state.
