Edo Police arrest a man who staged his own kidnapping to conceal a N1.3m gambling loss, warning against false distress reports

The Edo State Police Command has arrested David Ekes, a 21-year-old dispatch officer with Dibecs Industry Limited, for allegedly staging his own kidnapping to conceal a ₦1.3 million gambling loss, police authorities said on Monday.

Also read: Police arrest 14 suspected cultists over corpse hijack in Edo

The arrest followed a missing person report filed on January 30, 2026, by Moses Ekes, who reported at the Okpella Police Division that his nephew had disappeared while travelling between factory locations along the Auchi–Okene Expressway in Okpella, Edo State.

According to a statement issued by the Police Public Relations Officer, Eno Ikoedem, the suspect was last seen leaving his residence on an unregistered motorcycle, which was later recovered abandoned near the route he was said to have taken.

Police operatives immediately launched a search of the surrounding area and commenced an investigation into the reported disappearance.

The case took a dramatic turn the following morning when David Ekes resurfaced and was taken to a hospital in Okpella, claiming he had been abducted by three unidentified men and forced to trek through the forest for several days.

He alleged that his mobile phone had been stolen and funds withdrawn from his bank account during the ordeal.

However, a discreet investigation revealed that between January 25 and 26, 2026, the suspect had lost ₦1,308,000, belonging to both his employer and a customer, through online gambling on a sports betting platform.

Police said David Ekes subsequently travelled to Abuja, sold his mobile phone, checked into a hotel, and deliberately fabricated the kidnapping story to cover up the financial loss.

The suspect has since confessed to the crime and will be arraigned in court, police said, in what authorities described as a decisive move to deter similar acts of deception.

Reacting to the development, the Commissioner of Police, Edo State Command, Monday Agbonika, warned members of the public against filing false distress reports, noting that such actions undermine public trust and divert critical security resources.

The police commissioner also cautioned young people against irresponsible gambling, describing addiction as a dangerous trigger for desperation and criminal behaviour.

Also read: Kidnapped Kaduna worshippers regain freedom after weeks in captivity

The arrest comes amid ongoing efforts by the Edo State Police Command to dismantle kidnapping networks in Auchi and surrounding communities, following recent arrests linked to other high-profile abduction cases in the area.