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22-Year-Old Woman Allegedly Stages Own Kidnap, Tricks Family Into Paying N3m
Anambra Police Arrest Woman Over Alleged Self-Kidnapping and N3 Million Ransom Operatives of the Anambra State Police Command have arrested a 22-year-old woman, Nwachukwu Chidubem Blessing, over allegations of fraud, conspiracy, and staging her own kidnapping to extort N3 million from her family. According to police, the incident began on August 29, 2026, when Blessing was reported abducted along the Onitsha–Asaba Expressway, prompting her family to pay a N3 million ransom for her release. However, she was not released despite the payment, leading the family to seek police intervention.
Acting on credible intelligence, detectives from the Rapid Response Squad (RRS) in Awkuzu tracked Blessing to a rented room in Asaba, Delta State, on the afternoon of September 18, 2026, where she was found unharmed and taken into custody. In a statement issued by the command’s Public Relations Officer, SP Tochukwu Ikenga, preliminary investigations indicate that Blessing allegedly conspired with a female associate identified as Onyinye and at least one male accomplice to fake the abduction and collect money from her family.
The Commissioner of Police, CP Nnanna Oji Ama, has ordered further investigations to identify and apprehend the remaining co-conspirators.
The arrest comes amid a series of high-profile anti-kidnapping operations in Anambra State. In the days leading up to this incident, the command reported the rescue of a 16-year-old boy in Onitsha and the arrest of seven suspects linked to kidnapping and armed robbery syndicates. These operations, carried out by specialised units including the IGP’s Violent Crime Response Unit and the RRS, reflect a broader intelligence-driven approach to tackling violent crime in the state.
If charges are filed, Blessing and her alleged accomplices could face prosecution under Nigerian laws relating to fraud, conspiracy, and obtaining money by false pretences. The ongoing investigation aims to establish the full network behind the alleged scheme, trace the movement of the ransom, and determine whether similar tactics were used in other cases. The case also underscores the risks families face when paying ransom without independent verification, and reinforces police advice for immediate reporting and cooperation with security agencies in abduction cases.
