Ondo State Police Arrest Man for Staging Own Kidnapping

The Ondo State Police Command announced the arrest of 33‑year‑old Olawale Sikiru after investigators determined that he had fabricated his own kidnapping. The alleged incident was reported on 5 July by Sikiru’s mother, Iyabo, who said her son had been abducted while traveling to Igbara‑Oke and that kidnappers demanded a N1 million ransom. Police intelligence and forensic analysis of the ransom phone line led to Sikiru’s detention on 7 July, where he was found to have staged the abduction and collected N50,000 from his family as part payment.

The investigation also resulted in the arrest of 23‑year‑old Agbelusi Ayomide, identified as an accomplice who sheltered Sikiru during the scheme. Police spokesperson Abayomi Jimoh said further members of the alleged syndicate remain under investigation and will be charged in court. Commissioner Felix Ohagwu praised the anti‑kidnapping unit for exposing the fraud and warned that staging kidnappings wastes security resources and harms victims’ families.