400- level student fakes own kidnap, demands N50m ransom 

CITIZENS COMPASS – Police in Delta State have arrested a 400-level student of the Banking & Finance Department of the Delta State University, Abraka, for staging his own kidnap and demanding the sum of N50m in Bitcoin from his parents.

The suspect was said to have gone the extra mile by sending video clips of where he was tied and being tortured by his stage-managed abductors.
The incident occurred in the Abraka area of the State.

Citizens Compass learned the bubble later burst when Nelson’s father rushed to the Abraka Division to the incident report.
It was gathered that the operatives in their wisdom swung into action only to discover that the suspect stage-managed the incident to raise money for himself.
Confirming the incident, spokesman, of Delta State Police Command, SP Bright Edafe, in a statement on Thursday, June 13, 2024, said the suspect and his accomplice have been arrested.

“Following complaints received from the father of one Nelson Eserada ‘M’ at Abraka Division that his son Nelson Eserada was kidnapped and that the kidnappers were demanding a ransom of Fifty Million Naira (N50,000,000) in bitcoin.

“The suspect also sent a video of the supposed victim tied and being tortured. The DPO Abraka SP Fabian Ayameh swiftly moved into action, embarked on a technical intelligence-led investigation, and on 10/06/2024 at about 2000hrs, one Jerry Lawrence ‘M’ of Jeddo Community Warri was arrested in connection with the crime.
“Preliminary investigation revealed that the suspect conspired with the said Nelson Eserada a 400 Level Student of Banking & Finance Department of the Delta State University Abraka and that the father had already paid the sum of Five Million and Two Hundred Thousand Naira ransom through a Bitcoin account belonging to the principal suspect, Jerry Lawrence.

“The suspects are in custody and the investigation is ongoing.
“CP Abaniwonda urged parents to train and take care of their children., he noted that children when not raised properly may grow up and become problems to their parents. He also urged youths to stay away from the get-rich-quick syndrome, noting that crime does not pay.”

Similarly, the Command has arrested a suspected armed robber and recovered four locally-made cut-to-size guns.
The Spokesman said, “Following complaints of house-to-house armed robbery incidents received from residents in Bonsaac, Okwe, and other areas in the metropolis, the Commissioner of Police, CP Abaniwonda Olufemi, deployed a new DPO to ‘B’ division Asaba with a clear mandate to identify, and arrest those responsible.

“Consequently,  on 08/06/2024 at about 0340hrs, the newly posted DPO CSP Edewor Akponegware received credible information from a concerned resident  (name withheld) that he cited some suspicious-looking boys around the Mango Tree Market and that they were armed. The DPO immediately led patrol teams of the division to the scene and in the process the following suspects were arrested, John Dalami “M” age 25yrs, Musa Suleiman “M” age 25yrs, Abdullahi Jibril “M” age 20yrs, Solomon Uchechukwu “M” age 24yrs,  Yusuf Joda “M” age 21yrs, Egboka Chukwu Charles “M” age 21yrs and Wisdom Syvester “M” age 21yrs searched was conducted at scene and following items were recovered a bako bag containing a Locally Made Cut to Size Gun, one Live Cartridge.

“The suspects stated that they had been involved in a series of house-to-house armed robbery operations at Issele-Asagba,  Coka, and Ibusa. The case was then transferred to the special Anti-Kidnapping and Cybercrime squad for further investigation.

“Acting on the confessions of the suspects, they led the operatives to their hideout at the back of DDPA estate Asaba where six additional suspects were arrested and three locally made cut-to-size guns were recovered. Investigation is ongoing.”