A married woman, identified simply as Oluchi, has been discovered in a hotel in Delta State after allegedly staging her own abduction and demanding millions of naira in ransom from her family.
The incident, which initially sparked public sympathy and fundraising efforts, took a dramatic turn after police investigations revealed that the purported victim was not in the custody of kidnappers but was allegedly staying in a hotel with a male companion.
Family members had earlier reported to the police that Oluchi was kidnapped around the Ikpoba Hill area of Ikpoba-Okha Local Government Area of Edo State. Following the report, her children, including a daughter based in Canada, appealed to the public for financial assistance to secure her release.
The alleged abductors were said to have initially demanded N50 million before reducing the ransom to N20 million, prompting relatives and sympathisers to intensify efforts to raise funds.
However, a police investigation reportedly traced the telephone number linked to one of the suspects to a hotel in Ubiaroko, Delta State, where officers found Oluchi and the man believed to be her lover.
A source familiar with the investigation disclosed that the woman’s husband was invited after the discovery and informed that his wife had been located safely.
According to the source, the woman pleaded with her husband not to disclose the circumstances surrounding the incident to their children.
Reacting in an emotional video circulated online, Oluchi’s daughter, Anita, expressed shock and disappointment over the development, saying the revelation had devastated the family.
She explained that all her actions were driven by a genuine desire to secure her mother’s freedom, adding that neither she nor other family members had any prior knowledge of the alleged deception.
Anita said the incident had damaged her reputation and placed additional emotional strain on her father, who is reportedly battling health challenges.
She noted that no ransom was eventually paid and assured donors that funds raised during the campaign would be refunded.
The daughter further stated that police had informed the family that her mother was allegedly involved in planning the scheme alongside the man with whom she was found.
Meanwhile, the Harmony Ladies Club, a social association to which Anita belongs, has distanced itself from the incident.
In a statement circulated to members and journalists, the group said it was deeply disappointed by the outcome of investigations, noting that it had mobilised emotional, logistical and financial support after receiving reports of the alleged abduction.
The club described the discovery as a betrayal of the goodwill and solidarity extended to the family during what was believed to be a genuine emergency.
Confirming the development, the spokesperson for the Edo State Police Command, CSP Eno Ikoedem, said four persons had been arrested in connection with the case.
She added that investigations were ongoing.