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.
Police spokesperson DSP Olushola Ayanlade, in a statement on Saturday, said Azeez, a native of Ipele in Owo Local Government Area, devised the scheme after his father refused to give him money to settle a debt.
“When his request was denied, he pretended to have been abducted. On August 11, he claimed he was travelling to Ibadan but later began making distress calls to relatives and friends, alleging that he had been kidnapped,” Ayanlade explained.
According to the police, Azeez instructed that the supposed ransom be paid directly into his personal bank account. The money was reportedly raised through family contributions and a GoFundMe campaign.
However, suspicions arose when relatives questioned why a kidnap victim would demand payment into his own account. They alerted the police, who tracked his phone and discovered he had never left Owo.
He was subsequently arrested and confessed to the crime. Police say he will be charged to court once investigations are concluded.
“This case highlights the dangers of greed and deceit, which can destroy lives. Parents and guardians must guide their children against crime, peer pressure, and moral decline,” Ayanlade cautioned.
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He urged the public to reject all forms of deception and continue cooperating with security agencies to promote peace, safety, and social progress.
