By Titilope Adako

A 16-year-old SS2 student of a private secondary school in Abakaliki, Ebonyi State, has landed in police custody after faking her own kidnap and demanding a ransom of ₦2 million.

Ebonyi State Police Public Relations Officer, Joshua Ukandu, disclosed the incident on Monday, revealing that the girl contacted her brother claiming she had been abducted.

She allegedly conspired with a family friend to stage the fake kidnap. The girl, a native of Izzi Local Government Area, attends a school located on Watchman Street in Abakaliki and was due to resume for the third term on Saturday.

According to her statement to the police, she had gone to buy second-hand clothes, known as ‘Okirika’, when someone tapped her from behind, causing her to lose consciousness. She claimed to have woken up the next day at Ishieke Junction in Ebonyi Local Government Area.

She further told police that she often dreams of being kidnapped, and her mother frequently prays against such occurrences.

Instead of returning home after regaining consciousness, she went to a family friend’s house. The man, unaware she was reported missing, allowed her to stay. She then used his phone to send a message to her brother, demanding ₦2 million for her release.

When her brother asked to speak with the “kidnappers” and requested their location, she refused and blocked his number. She later unblocked him and sent an account number belonging to the man she was staying with.

The police tracked the phone, raided the house, and arrested everyone involved in the plot.

Ukandu confirmed that the command has launched a full investigation. The girl has since been reunited with her family, but the case remains under scrutiny due to her age.

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