A married woman identified as Oluchi has been found in a hotel in Delta State after allegedly staging her own abduction and demanding a ransom of N50 million from her family.

According to The Punch, the woman’s family had earlier reported that she was kidnapped in the Ikpoba Hill area of Ikpoba-Okha Local Government Area of Edo State. As efforts intensified to secure her release, relatives and well-wishers reportedly began raising funds after the alleged kidnappers reduced their ransom demand from N50 million to N20 million.

However, police investigations later uncovered that the reported kidnapping was allegedly staged. Detectives traced a phone number linked to the case to a hotel in Ubiaroko, Delta State, where Oluchi was reportedly found with her lover.

A source familiar with the investigation said the woman’s husband was contacted after police located the pair, adding that the alleged victim pleaded with her husband not to disclose the circumstances surrounding her disappearance to their children.

Reacting to the development, her daughter, Anita, who resides in Canada, expressed shock and disappointment, stating that the family had genuinely believed she had been kidnapped and had only sought public support to save her life. She added that any money raised would be refunded and that the family had involved the police from the beginning of the case.

The Harmony Ladies Club, a group that had mobilised support for the family during the alleged abduction, also expressed disappointment after learning that the incident was reportedly orchestrated by the woman herself.

Confirming the incident, Edo State Police spokesperson Eno Ikoedem said four persons had been arrested in connection with the case, while investigations continue.

Source: Punch Newspaper