Edo police staged kidnapping arrest exposes ₦50m ransom scam involving Oluchi Ugbowan and accomplices in Benin City and Delta State
The Edo State Police Command in Benin City, Edo State, on 9 June 2026, arrested Mrs Oluchi Ugbowan and three other suspects after uncovering a staged kidnapping scheme designed to fraudulently obtain ₦50,000,000 ransom from her family.
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The investigation, led by the Edo State Police Command Anti Kidnapping Unit, exposed a coordinated plot involving fabricated abduction videos and false ransom demands sent to the victim’s husband, Mr Tony Ugbowan.
According to the Command, the case began on 1 June 2026 when Mr Tony Ugbowan reported that his wife had been kidnapped while heading to her shop at Ramat Park along Agbor Road in Benin City.
Shortly after the report, a concealed phone number allegedly contacted the family, demanding ₦50,000,000 for her release.
Operatives launched a discreet investigation and first arrested Israel Ability, aged 28, in the Ramat Park axis of Benin City.
The Edo State Police Command recovered the victim’s mobile phone from him during the operation.
During interrogation, the suspect confessed that Mrs Oluchi Ugbowan allegedly contracted him to coordinate ransom negotiations while faking her abduction.
Further intelligence-led operations led officers to a hotel in Ukwuani Local Government Area of Delta State, where Oluchi Ugbowan was arrested on 5 June 2026.
She reportedly confessed to staging her own kidnapping and later led investigators to an accomplice, Ochukwudem Uwadia, also in Delta State.
Investigations revealed that Uwadia’s residence was used as the location for recording ransom videos showing the victim with tied hands and feet. The footage was circulated to create the impression of a real abduction.
The Edo State Police Command further disclosed that Chibuzor Ochukwudem, aged 18, appeared in the videos pointing a firearm at the victim to strengthen the fake narrative.
A search of the premises led to the recovery of an automatic pump action gun allegedly used in the staged ransom recordings.
The Commissioner of Police, Edo State Police Command, CP Monday Agbonika, described the operation as a major breakthrough and praised officers for their professionalism.
He warned that all kidnapping reports are treated as genuine threats and assured that the Command will continue to deploy full resources to rescue victims and prosecute offenders.
He also cautioned residents against false kidnapping claims, noting that such actions waste security resources and undermine genuine rescue operations.
The incident spans operations in Benin City and Delta State, where key arrests and evidence recovery were made during the investigation.
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Police authorities confirmed that all suspects remain in custody as investigations continue.
David Okere is a journalist and contributor to Freelanews.com, covering business, governance, public affairs, and human-interest stories with a commitment to accuracy, balance, and public interest reporting.
