What began as a desperate search for a kidnapped woman has ended in controversy after police reportedly discovered that the supposed victim was staying in a hotel with her lover in Delta State.
The woman, identified simply as Oluchi, and her alleged lover were arrested following an investigation into what authorities now suspect was a staged abduction designed to extort money from family members and sympathisers.
The incident initially generated widespread concern after relatives reported that Oluchi had been abducted around the Ikpoba Hill area of Ikpoba-Okha Local Government Area of Edo State.
Following the reported kidnapping, her children, including a daughter based in Canada, launched a public appeal for assistance to secure her release.
According to family accounts, the supposed kidnappers initially demanded N50 million before reducing the ransom to N20 million, prompting frantic efforts by relatives, friends and well-wishers to raise the money.
However, the narrative took a dramatic turn when police investigators traced a telephone number allegedly linked to one of the suspects to a hotel in Ubiaroko, Delta State.
Officers who stormed the location reportedly found Oluchi alive and in the company of a man believed to be her lover.
Sources familiar with the investigation disclosed that the woman’s husband was subsequently invited by the police and informed that his wife had been located safely.
According to the source, Oluchi pleaded with her husband not to reveal the circumstances surrounding her discovery to their children.
The revelation sparked outrage and disappointment among family members who had spent days believing she was in the hands of kidnappers.
In an emotional video that has since circulated online, Oluchi’s daughter, Anita, expressed shock over the development, saying the discovery left the family devastated.
She maintained that every step taken during the ordeal was motivated by a sincere desire to rescue her mother and stressed that neither she nor other family members had any knowledge of the alleged scheme.
Anita said the incident had damaged her credibility and worsened the emotional burden on her father, who is reportedly dealing with health challenges.
She also clarified that no ransom payment was eventually made and assured donors that all funds raised during the campaign would be returned.
According to Anita, police informed the family that investigators believe her mother collaborated with the man she was found with to orchestrate the fake kidnapping.
Meanwhile, the Harmony Ladies Club, a social association to which Anita belongs, has publicly distanced itself from the incident.
In a statement, the group expressed disappointment over the outcome of the investigation, noting that members had provided emotional, financial and logistical support after being informed that a genuine kidnapping had occurred.
The association described the alleged deception as a betrayal of the goodwill and solidarity extended to the family during what was believed to be a serious emergency.
Confirming the development, the spokesperson for the Edo State Police Command, CSP Eno Ikoedem, disclosed that four suspects had been arrested in connection with the case.
She added that investigations are ongoing.
