The Ondo Police Command has arrested a 29-year-old man, Bello Azeez, for allegedly staging his own abduction in a bid to extort money from his family and friends.
Azeez, a native of Ipele in Owo Local Government Area, was apprehended on Saturday after police investigations revealed that he masterminded the scheme after his father allegedly declined his request for a loan of N500,000 to settle a debt.
According to the Police command, Azeez pretended to be travelling to Ibadan, Oyo State capital, on August 11, 2025, before placing distressed phone calls to relatives, claiming he had been kidnapped.
He reportedly pleaded for ransom to secure his release.
Disturbed by the situation, his parents and close friends were said to have mobilized funds and launched a GoFundMe account, eventually raising N500,000.
The police investigation revealed that the ransom was then transferred into Azeez’s personal bank account on his instructions.
Suspicion arose when family members noticed that the “kidnappers” insisted on having the ransom paid directly into the supposed victim’s account- an unusual practice in abduction cases.
The family subsequently alerted the police.
Police operatives tracked the phone number used during the negotiations and discovered that Azeez never left Owo town throughout the period of his alleged captivity.
He was arrested and, during interrogation, confessed to the crime.
Confirming the development in a statement in Akure, Ondo Police spokesman, Olayinka Ayanlade, said the suspect will be charged to court upon completion of investigations.
“This case once again underscores the dangers of greed, deceit, and the lure of quick wealth, which often push individuals into acts capable of ruining their future,” Ayanlade, a deputysuperintendent of police (DSP) said in the statement.
He cautioned parents and guardians to properly guide their children against crime, peer pressure, and moral decadence.
Reiterating the stance of the Inspector General of Police to nip crime in the bud, Ayanlade stressed the command’s commitment to professionalism, justice, and intelligence-led policing aimed at securing lives and property.
He further quoted the Commissioner of Police in Ondo State, CP Adebowale Lawal, as assuring residents that criminality in any form would not be tolerated.
Ayanlade urged members of the public to continue cooperating with security agencies to ensure peace and safety in society.
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