The Edo State Police Command has arrested a 27-year-old woman, Chioma Ezebie Adaniken, for allegedly staging her own kidnapping in a plot to extort N5 million from her husband.

According to a statement issued on Tuesday by the Command’s Deputy Public Relations Officer, ASP Eno Ikoedem, Chioma conspired with her cousin, Osita Godfrey, and another suspect, Martins Chidozie, to execute the fake abduction.

The police said the plot was uncovered after Chioma’s husband, Paul Adaniken, reported to the New Etete Division in Benin City that his wife and their three-year-old son had been kidnapped on October 27, 2025.

“Mr. Adaniken reported that at about 7:30 a.m., he left his wife and son at home before heading to his shop. Later that day, he received a call from an unknown number, informing him that his wife and child had been abducted, with the kidnappers demanding a ransom of N5 million for their release,” the statement said.

Following the report, detectives from the New Etete Division, in collaboration with the Anti-Kidnapping Unit, launched an intelligence-led investigation and cyber analysis, which exposed inconsistencies in the narrative.

Their findings led to the arrest of Chioma’s cousin, Osita Godfrey, who was initially believed to be assisting the family during the ordeal. His confession later implicated Chioma herself, who was found to have conspired with her accomplices to fake the abduction.

“Another suspect, Martins Chidozie, aged 23, was also arrested in connection with the crime. All suspects have made useful confessional statements, and the ransom of N5 million has been recovered,” the statement added.

The police confirmed that the case has been transferred to the State Criminal Investigation Department (SCID) for further investigation and prosecution.

Reacting to the incident, Edo State Commissioner of Police, Monday Agbonika, praised officers of the New Etete Division for their swift and coordinated efforts in unraveling what he described as a “deceitful and desperate act.”

He warned residents against engaging in criminal activities capable of disrupting public peace, stressing that the Command remains committed to using intelligence and technology to combat all forms of crime across the state.

The latest incident comes amid a wave of kidnapping cases in Edo State. Despite several arrests, the menace persists. Earlier this year, seven travellers were lynched by a mob in Uromi, Edo Central, after being accused of kidnapping, while a retired headmaster, Mr. Eliaser Olorunloju, was recently abducted along the Igarra–Ibillo road, with his captors demanding N70 million ransom.

The police said they are intensifying efforts to clamp down on criminal networks operating across the state.