The Ondo State Police Command has arrested a 29-year-old man, Bello Azeez, for allegedly staging his own kidnapping in a bid to extort N500,000 from his family and acquaintances.
The Command’s spokesperson, DSP Olushola Ayanlade, disclosed in a statement on Saturday that Azeez, who hails from Ipele in Owo Local Government Area, came up with the scheme after his father refused to lend him money to settle a debt.
According to Ayanlade, the suspect claimed he was travelling to Ibadan on August 11 but later began making distress calls to his parents and friends, alleging he had been abducted.
He reportedly directed that the ransom, raised through family contributions and a GoFundMe appeal, be paid directly into his personal account—a move that aroused suspicion.
“His family became doubtful when they questioned why a kidnapping victim would request payment into his account. They immediately alerted the police,” the spokesperson said.
Investigations revealed that Azeez never left Owo as claimed. Detectives tracked his phone location and subsequently arrested him.
He later confessed to the crime and will be arraigned in court after investigations are concluded.
DSP Ayanlade, while condemning the act, described it as “a dangerous display of greed and deceit capable of destroying lives,” and urged parents to guide their children against crime and negative peer influence.
He also called on members of the public to reject all forms of deception and continue cooperating with security agencies to enhance peace and security in society.