Couple, One Other Arrested For Self-Kidnapping In Lagos, Jos

… ‘Self-Kidnapping Is A Punishable Offence’ 

THE Nigeria Police Force has warned against the recent disturbing trend of self-kidnapping (false kidnapping), which it says is a punishable offence under the laws, this is even as it cautioned members of the public against engaging in such activities as there are legal consequences associated with the criminal act. 

The warning is coming on the heels of observed incidents of self-kidnapping in various locations, with suspects apprehended in Lagos and Abuja.

A statement released by ACP Olumuyiwa Adejobi,  Force Public Relations Officer (FPRO) yesterday 23rd January says in Lagos, a couple was arrested for an alleged self-kidnapping scheme aimed at obtaining Five Million (N5,000,000.00)  ransom recently. The husband, Doubara David Yabrifa, a 53-year-old technician, and the wife Regina Yabrifa, a 48-year-old body massager and bone setter, were apprehended after a family member reported the purported kidnapping. Adejobi said the couple confessed to planning the self-kidnap to raise N5 million to purchase a property in Badagry, Lagos. The husband justified the act, citing financial difficulties and lack of support from relatives. Both were arrested and subsequently charged to court.

ACP Adejobi added that one Albarka Sukuya of Jenta Apata, Jos, has been notorious for staging his kidnap on several occasions and received ransoms from unsuspecting members of the community in Plateau State. 

“Similarly, on 20th January 2024, a young man, Nnamdi Agu, faked his kidnap in Abuja in an attempt to defraud one of his family members who resides around River Park Estate, Abuja, to make money to pay for his personal pleasures. The Police, in a swift response, foiled the staged kidnapping and arrested the suspect. It is obvious that the suspect and many others leveraged on the prevailing instances of kidnapping and plan to engage in such criminal and deceptive acts of staged or self-kidnapping to make money.’’

ACP Adejobi stressed that these three (3) cases are a few similar cases recorded in some states, that have been thwarted by the Police.

Eighteen-Eleven Media