BRIDE STAGES HER KIDNAP, COLLECT 3 MIL NAIRA RANSOM TO GET MONEY TO REFUND 3.6MILLION NAIRA LOAN SPENT ON BRIDAL SHOWER

The Delta State Police Command has arrested a woman, Merit Eleh, 19, over who faked her kidnap to extort money from her family and repay wedding-related debts.

The spokesperson of the command, SP Bright Edafe, revealed this on Monday through a press release.

According to the police, Eleh had conspired with two men to stage her abduction in the Bonsaac area of Asaba on July 21.

An official report by her family member led the command’s Cyber Crime Squad, led by CSP Godwin Osadolor, to swing into action.

When operatives tracked both male suspects, Alfred Elisha and Ugochukwu Adim to their separate locations in the state, on July 22.

“Upon arrest of the suspects, he confessed that it was not a case of an actual kidnapping but a plot between the victim and himself,” the police said.

Following their arrest, Eleh was apprehended and she admitted to the crime.

“She confessed that the money loaned to her by her brother was about N3.6m; she used it to sponsor her bridal shower and hotel expenses during her wedding, which took place in March 2025.

“She further stated that she faked her kidnap and received a ransom of N3m and gave her accomplices N500,000 and she took N2.5m for herself,” the press release said.

In a separate confession captured on a footage, Eleh said, “My brother gave me the money to purchase a tricycle.

“After I used it, I was thinking of ways to raise the money and I didn’t see any. So, I masterminded the plan.”

One of the suspects, Adim, also confessed to having been involved in the plot with a take-home of N225,000.

Adim said they had demanded N10m ransom, expecting to receive a minimum of N5m, however, but only got N3m at the end.

The mastermind noted that the said N3m was contributed by her husband and her brothers.

Faking one’s kidnapping is a criminal offence in Nigeria, and the legal consequences can include multiple charges depending on the specifics of the act.

Charges include conspiracy; false pretence/fraud (both are up to seven years or more); public mischief/false information (up to two years), and restitution or fines.