A married woman, identified simply as Oluchi, has been discovered in a hotel in Delta State after allegedly staging her own kidnapping and demanding a N50 million ransom from her family.
The incident, which sparked widespread concern and sympathy, reportedly led family members and friends to begin raising funds for her release after the supposed abductors later reduced their demand to N20 million.
Oluchi was initially reported missing in the Ikpoba Hill area of Ikpoba-Okha Local Government Area of Edo State.
Oluchi’s family involved the police
Her family subsequently alerted the police and launched public appeals for assistance, believing she had been abducted by kidnappers.
However, investigations by security operatives reportedly uncovered a different story.
Police detectives traced a phone number linked to one of the suspects to a hotel in Ubiaroko, Delta State, where Oluchi was allegedly found staying with her lover.
A source familiar with the investigation said officers located the pair in the hotel and immediately contacted Oluchi’s husband.
“The police tracked the man’s phone to a hotel in Ubiaroko. They found both the man and the woman together there. Her husband was later informed, and he was relieved she was alive. It was at the police station that investigators revealed what had actually happened,” the source disclosed.
Plea for secrecy
According to the source, Oluchi allegedly pleaded with her husband not to disclose the circumstances surrounding her disappearance to their children. The husband, apparently, did not heed his wife’s plea. He told the children.
The development has left members of her family devastated, particularly her daughter, Anita, who is based in Canada and had publicly appealed for support during the period her mother was believed to be in captivity.
Daughter, Anita apologises for mother’s indiscretion
In an emotional video shared online after the discovery, Anita expressed shock over the incident, saying the revelation had deeply affected the family.
“My mother has been found, but we have now learned that she was involved in the entire situation. I did everything I could to save her because I genuinely believed she had been kidnapped,” she said.
She added that the experience had taken a heavy emotional toll on the family, particularly her father, who is reportedly battling health challenges.
“This has shattered our family. I never imagined anything like this. I only wanted my mother to come home safely. I had no knowledge of what was going on,” Anita lamented.
Return of donations for ransom
She also disclosed that no ransom was paid and that all funds raised during the campaign would be returned to donors.
“The money is still intact, and we will refund everyone who contributed. The police were involved from the beginning, and we now understand that there was no actual kidnapping. Investigators told us my mother and the man had a relationship and planned to obtain part of the money we had raised,” she said.
Reactions
The incident has also triggered reactions from the Harmony Ladies Club, a social group to which Anita belongs.
In a statement circulated on the group’s WhatsApp platform, the organisation distanced itself from the alleged kidnapping scheme and expressed disappointment over the outcome of the investigation.
The club stated that its members had mobilised emotional, financial and logistical support after learning of Oluchi’s alleged abduction.
“We acted in good faith and stood by the family during what we believed was a life-threatening situation. It is deeply upsetting to discover that the kidnapping was allegedly orchestrated by Mrs Oluchi herself,” the statement said.
The group described the development as a betrayal of the trust and solidarity shown by its members during the ordeal.
Police confirm incident
Meanwhile, the Edo State Police Command has confirmed the incident and disclosed that four suspects have been arrested in connection with the case.
The command’s spokesperson, CSP Moses Yamu, said investigations were ongoing and assured that all those involved would face the full weight of the law.
“I can confirm the incident. Four persons have been arrested in connection with the case, and investigations are continuing,” the police spokesperson said.
The case has generated widespread reactions on social media, with many expressing sympathy for the family while calling for appropriate legal action against those found culpable in the alleged fake kidnapping plot.
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