The Lagos State Police Command confirmed on Saturday the arrest of a couple (name withheld) over alleged self-kidnapping for N5 million in ransom.
The command’s spokesperson, Benjamin Hundeyin, who spoke with the News Agency of Nigeria on Saturday, said that the husband, a 53-year-old technician, and wife, a 48-year-old masseuse and bone setter, were arrested on Wednesday and Thursday, respectively, after a family member of the man reported the purported kidnap.
He said the couple, who admitted to the crime, claimed they planned the self-kidnap with a view to raising N3 million to buy back their house in the Badagry area of Lagos.
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“The man brought the idea and sold it to his wife. He did not deny it before the police. He said he did it through a text message for a purpose. He said he did it because he wanted to buy back his house with N3 million.
“The man claimed he decided to organize a self-kidnap because he has financially capable brothers and sisters abroad.”
“He claimed that if they heard of his kidnapping with his wife, they would negotiate with the kidnappers and pay the money,” the spokesperson said.
Hundeyin noted that the couple was still living in their house in Badagry when they sent out text messages about their kidnapping to their relatives, stressing that when police visited the house on Tuesday, they met the wife and three children.
NAN
