The suspects allegedly staged a kidnapping and demanded ransom from the mother of one of them before police traced them to a hotel in Makurdi
The Benue State Police Command has arrested two women over an alleged fake kidnap plot in Makurdi, after they reportedly staged an abduction to extort ransom from the family of one of the suspects.
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The suspects, identified as Mary Torkuma and her friend, Evergreen Samuel, were arrested after an intelligence-led investigation by operatives of the Violence Crime Response Unit traced them to a hotel in the Ankpa Quarters area of Makurdi.
The Command’s spokesperson, DSP Peter Aondongu, disclosed the arrests in a statement issued on Wednesday and made available to journalists in the Benue State capital.
According to Aondongu, Torkuma, who resides in Akpehe, Makurdi, left her home on July 12, 2026, to visit Samuel in the North Bank area of the city.
The following day, Torkuma’s mother, who lives in Lagos State, reportedly received a call from an unidentified number claiming that her daughter had been kidnapped and demanding ransom for her release.
The matter was subsequently reported to the police on July 15, prompting operatives of the Violence Crime Response Unit to begin an investigation into the alleged abduction.
“On 15th July 2026, a report was received by the Command’s Violence Crime Response Unit, Makurdi, that one Miss Mary Torkuma of Akpehe, Makurdi, had left her apartment on 12th July 2026 to visit a friend at North Bank area of Makurdi,” Aondongu said.
“The following day, her mother, who resides in Lagos State, received a telephone call from an unknown number demanding ransom and claiming that her daughter had been kidnapped.”
Police investigators subsequently traced the alleged victim to a hotel in Ankpa Quarters, where Torkuma was reportedly found with Samuel.
The police said further investigation indicated that the two women had allegedly conspired to create the impression that Torkuma had been abducted in an attempt to obtain money from her mother.
Samuel, according to the police, had travelled from Abia State to participate in the alleged scheme.
The discovery has raised concerns over the growing sophistication of fraudulent kidnapping claims, which can cause severe emotional distress to families while diverting security resources away from genuine abduction cases.
The two suspects are currently in police custody as investigators continue to establish the full circumstances surrounding the alleged scheme.
Aondongu said the suspects would be charged to court after the conclusion of the investigation.
The Commissioner of Police in Benue State, Cletus Nwadiogbu, warned residents against engaging in criminal activities, including staging false kidnapping incidents for financial gain.
Nwadiogbu said such acts not only violate the law but also divert police resources that could otherwise be deployed to respond to genuine security emergencies.
The Commissioner reaffirmed the Command’s commitment to intelligence-led policing and urged residents to promptly report suspicious activities to the nearest police station.
The case serves as a reminder of the serious consequences associated with false kidnapping claims, particularly in communities where genuine abductions remain a major security concern.
While the police investigation is ongoing, authorities are expected to determine whether other individuals were involved in the alleged scheme and whether any ransom was actually paid or transferred before the suspects were located.
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The Command has not disclosed further details about the alleged ransom demand or the identities of other persons who may have been connected to the incident.
Mariam Balogun is a contributor to Freelanews.com, covering news, business, and public affairs.
