In a startling twist of events, the Anambra State Police Command has uncovered a fake kidnapping plot orchestrated by two secondary school students in a bid to extort ransom money from their parents.
The incident, which occurred over the weekend, has left the local community in shock and raised concerns about the growing trend of self-kidnappings among young people.
According to the Anambra State Police Public Relations Officer, DSP Tochukwu Ikenga, the two students—both males aged 17 and 16—are students of a private secondary school in Nnewi and had conspired to stage their disappearance in order to demand ₦500,000 each from their unsuspecting families.
DSP Ikenga revealed that the students went missing on Friday after school hours, prompting panic among their parents and school authorities. A purported kidnapper soon contacted the parents, demanding a total of ₦1 million as ransom for their “safe release.”
“During the investigation, we traced the phone number used to contact the parents to a location in Nnewi,” Ikenga said. “When our officers stormed the location, we were surprised to find the boys hiding in a friend’s apartment, safe and unhurt. It became clear that there was no actual abduction, but a well-planned deception.”
Upon interrogation, the boys confessed to faking their own abduction, citing pressure for money and peer influence as their motivations. One of the boys reportedly said he intended to use his share of the ransom to buy a new smartphone and designer sneakers.
The parents, visibly shaken by the ordeal, expressed disappointment and heartbreak over their sons’ actions. Community leaders and school officials have also condemned the act, describing it as “a dangerous sign of moral decay and poor value orientation.”
Police have confirmed that the students are currently in custody and undergoing psychological evaluation. The matter is being handled with caution due to their age, and they may face disciplinary action from their school in addition to legal consequences.
The Commissioner of Police, CP Aderemi Adeoye, issued a stern warning to youths across the state, urging them not to trivialize the issue of kidnapping.
“Staging a kidnapping is a criminal offense and a serious matter. It wastes police resources, creates panic, and undermines real efforts to combat kidnapping,” CP Adeoye said. “Parents, schools, and communities must intensify efforts to instill discipline and moral values in our children.”
The case has sparked public discourse on the influence of social media, materialism, and declining family supervision on young Nigerians.
