Anambra Police Bust 22-Year-Old Woman Over Alleged N3 Million Self-Kidn*p Scam

Operatives of the Anambra State Police Command have apprehended a 22-year-old woman, Nwachukwu Blessing, in connection with an alleged scheme involving conspiracy, fraud, and a staged kidn*pping. The arrest follows her family's payment of a N3 million ransom. Investigations suggest that Ms. Nwachukwu collaborated with a female associate, identified only as 'Onyinye,' and an unidentified male accomplice to orchestrate her own abduction and extort money from her relatives.

SP Tochukwu Ikenga, the spokesperson for the state police command, confirmed the arrest on Sunday, stating that officers from the Rapid Response Squad, Awkuzu, took her into custody on Friday based on credible intelligence. Ikenga explained that Ms. Nwachukwu was reportedly kidn*pped along the Onitsha–Asaba Expressway on August 29, 2026. Despite her family paying the N3 million ransom, she was allegedly not released, which prompted a more thorough police investigation.

According to Ikenga, “The suspect was arrested by Operatives of the Rapid Response Squad, Awkuzu, following credible intelligence received in the course of an investigation into a reported kidn*pping incident. The lady was reportedly abducted along the Onitsha–Asaba Expressway on 29th August 2026. However, despite the payment of N3 million ransom by her family, she was allegedly not released, prompting further investigation by the Police.”

He further detailed how sustained intelligence gathering and investigative efforts led police operatives to trace and locate the alleged victim. “Following sustained intelligence gathering and investigative efforts, Police Operatives, in the afternoon of September 18, 2026, traced and located the alleged victim in a room in Asaba, Delta State, where she was recovered.”

Preliminary findings from the ongoing inquiry indicate that “the lady allegedly conspired with a female associate identified as Onyinye, whose other names are yet to be established, and another male accomplice, whose identity is presently unknown, to stage her own kidn*pping and obtain money from her family.”

Ms. Nwachukwu Blessing is currently assisting the police with crucial information to fully unravel the circumstances surrounding the incident and to identify and apprehend her alleged collaborators. The Commissioner of Police for Anambra State Command, CP Nnanna Ama, has issued directives for the investigation to be intensified. His aim is to ensure all individuals found culpable are brought to justice in accordance with the law.