One Chioma Ezebie Adaniken has been arrested for faking her kidnap with the N5m ransom she collected recovered from her.
Adaniken’s accomplices, her cousin, Godfrey Osita
and one Martins Chidozie Martin Aghaji have also been apprehended.
The incident as per a statement the Edo State Police Command Deputy Police Public Relations Officer, ASP Eno Ikoedem released, occurred on October 27, 2025, when Adaniken’s husband, Paul Adaniken, in distress told the police that his wife and son had been kidnapped.
“On October 27, 2025, one Paul Adaniken, ‘m’, of No. 111 Limit Road, off Sapele Road, Benin City, reported at New Etete Police Division that at about 07:30hrs, he left his wife, Chioma Success Ezebie, ‘f’, aged 27, and their three-year-old son, Andrea Ojiezelabor, ‘m’, at home before proceeding to his shop.
“Later that day, at about midday, he received a phone call from an unknown number informing him that his wife and son had been kidnapped, with the abductors demanding a ransom of N5m for their release.
“Upon receipt of the complaint, detectives from New Etete Division immediately commenced investigations, while the Command’s Anti-Kidnapping Unit launched a full-scale cyber analysis and the intelligence-led operations that yielded a major breakthrough revealing startling details: the victim’s cousin, Osita Godfrey,‘m’, aged 33, who was earlier believed to be assisting with information, was arrested and found to be complicit in the crime.”
It said that Osita’s confessional statement led to the arrest of the supposed victim, Chioma Adaniken, ‘f’, aged 27, who conspired with her accomplices to stage her own abduction in order to extort money from her husband.
“Another suspect, Martins Chidozie, ‘m’, aged 23, was also arrested in connection with the crime. All suspects have made useful confessional statements, ransom of N5m recovered, and the case has been transferred to the State Criminal Investigation Department for further investigation and onward prosecution,” the statement added.
