Police arrests two suspects over staged kidnapping, N30m ransom demand in Ebonyi

The Ebonyi State Police Command has arrested two suspects identified as Fortune Onuoha and Nkwo Chiemerie, for allegedly staging their kidnap and demanding a ransom of N30 million from the father of one of them.

According to a statement released by the command's Public Relations Officer (PPRO), SP Joshua Ukandu, the incident was reported on October 31, 2026.

Ukandu said Onuoha’s father contacted the Command’s Control Room at about 10:30 p.m., reporting that his son had allegedly been abducted from his hostel in Ikwo Local Government Area of the state.

He explained that the father subsequently received view-once videos and voice notes purportedly showing his son tied up.

The materials were accompanied by demands for a ransom of N30 million and threats by the alleged kidnappers to kill the victim if the money was not paid.

Following the report, police operatives reportedly launched an intelligence-driven investigation to establish the circumstances surrounding the alleged abduction and identify those responsible.

The investigation, which involved sustained surveillance and discreet intelligence-gathering operations, eventually led to the arrest of the two suspects on the night of November 5, 2026.

Ukandu said the police tracked down the suspects and arrested them in the room where they had allegedly been hiding.