Police Arrest Two Students for Orchestrating Fake Self Kidnapping Scheme

The incident unfolded when Ayodele disappeared from home on February 2, prompting Dennis to inform Ayodele's father of his son's purported abduction and demand a ransom of $20,000. The suspects directed the ransom payment to be made through Bitcoin.

Police Arrest Two Students for Orchestrating Fake Self Kidnapping Scheme

The Lagos State Police Command has apprehended two students for allegedly orchestrating their own kidnapping. According to the Command's Public Relations Officer, SP Benjamin Hundeyin, the suspects, identified as Ayodele Balogun, a 200-level student at Lagos State University, and his friend Dennis Okuomo, concocted the scheme to raise funds for Ayodele's family, who were facing financial difficulties.

The incident unfolded when Ayodele disappeared from home on February 2, prompting Dennis to inform Ayodele's father of his son's purported abduction and demand a ransom of $20,000. The suspects directed the ransom payment to be made through Bitcoin.

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Unable to raise the demanded sum, Dennis devised a plan to fake his own kidnapping and demanded $100,000 from his own father. Both suspects hid in a bush for five days before returning to Dennis's room at his father's hotel and fabricating a story of their escape from kidnappers' captivity.

Upon investigation, the police discovered that the entire ordeal was a hoax orchestrated by the two students. They are currently in police custody facing charges of self-kidnapping.

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The police have condemned the actions of the suspects and warned against further assaults on law enforcement personnel. They emphasized their commitment to upholding law and order and urged citizens to refrain from engaging in criminal activities.

The suspects' families have been duly informed, and the investigation into the case continues as the police work to ensure justice is served.