The Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps has arrested a student of the University of Calabar, Cross River State, identified as Anthony Edum Oscar, for allegedly kidnapping a teenager for ransom.
Disclosing this in a statement on Tuesday, the state’s NSCDC Public Relations Officer, Daniel Aidamenbor, identified the abducted teenage girl as Araba Temitope, a student of Elibest College of Education, Oba Ile, Akure North, Ondo State.
The NSCDC spokesperson said that the 21-year-old suspect kidnapped the student while returning home from school and demanded a ransom from the victim’s parents who had reported her missing since January 24, 2024.
Mr Aidamenbor disclosed that one week after a missing person notice was published, the suspect contacted the parents claiming that their daughter was in his camp for rehabilitation and demanded that the sum of N50,000 be paid to a Moniepoint account to secure her release.
“A sting operation was initiated, and the parents were instructed to pay the said amount and the mobile number was tracked, leading to the arrest of the suspect on February 17, 2024, after a detailed forensic analysis,” he stated.
Mr Aidamenbor revealed that the suspect in his confession, admitted to receiving the N50,000 ransom, but had yet to reveal the victim’s whereabouts.
He stated that investigation was ongoing to find out the location of the missing teenage girl and arrest the suspect’s accomplices.