16-Year-Old Girl in Abakaliki Fakes Own Kidnap and Demands ₦2 Million Ransom

A 16-year-old secondary school student has shocked residents of Abakaliki, Ebonyi State, by staging her own kidnapping and requesting a ransom of ₦2 million from her family.

The teenager, who is in SS2 and attends a private school located on Watchman Street in Abakaliki, allegedly planned the fake kidnap with help from a family friend. She is a native of Izzi Local Government Area and was supposed to resume school for the third term on Saturday before the incident happened.

According to the Ebonyi State Police Public Relations Officer, Joshua Ukandu, the girl told police that she had gone out to buy second-hand clothes commonly called Okirika, when someone tapped her from behind.

She claimed she lost consciousness and later woke up at Ishieke Junction in Ebonyi Local Government Area.

She further told investigators that she often dreams about being kidnapped and that her mother regularly prays to prevent such an event. After allegedly regaining consciousness, instead of going home, she made her way to the house of a family friend who didn’t know she was missing.

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While at the friend’s house, she used his phone to send a message to her brother, claiming she had been kidnapped. 

She demanded ₦2 million for her release. When her brother asked to speak with the kidnappers and requested their location, she refused and later blocked his number.

Later, she unblocked him and sent an account number belonging to the family friend she was staying with, asking for the ransom to be paid into that account.

Unfortunately for her, the police were able to trace the phone used to send the messages. Officers raided the house where she was staying and arrested everyone involved.

Joshua Ukandu confirmed to reporters on Monday that the police are now investigating the incident in full. He also stated that the girl has been returned to her family, but the matter is still under investigation, especially because she is a minor.

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