By Peter Onyekachukwu 
By Peter Onyekachukwu
SP Bright Edafe, the Police Public Relations Officer, Delta State Command, Asaba, said the Command has arrested a woman who staged her own kidnap along with her accomplices.
He said the incident occurred on 21st July 2025 when the Command received a report that a woman had been abducted by unknown gunmen in the Bonsaac area of Asaba.
“Acting on the directive of the Commissioner of Police, CP Olufemi Abaniwonda, operatives of the Special Anti-Kidnapping and Cyber Crime Squad, led by CSP Godwin Osadolor, launched a coordinated intelligence-driven operation,” Edafe said.
He explained that the operatives arrested Alfred Elisha at Koka Roundabout and Ugochukwu Adim off DLA Road, Asaba, on 22nd July 2025. “Upon interrogation, one of the suspects confessed it was not a real kidnap but a plot with the victim,” he added.
According to him, their confession led to the arrest of Merit Eleh, 29, who admitted faking her kidnap. “She confessed that she had borrowed about ₦3.6 million from her brother to sponsor her bridal shower and hotel expenses during her wedding in March 2025. She faked her kidnap and collected a ransom of ₦3 million, out of which she gave her accomplices ₦500,000 and kept ₦2.5 million for herself,” Edafe stated.
He said all suspects are in custody and investigations are ongoing.