The Edo State Police Command says it has arrested an 18-year-old girl, Obehi Odine, for allegedly staging her own kidnapping in Ekpoma and demanding N10 million ransom from her parents.
The Command’s spokesperson, ASP Eno Ikoedem, disclosed this in a statement issued on Tuesday, January 13, 2026. He also announced the arrest of 11 suspected kidnappers, as well as the recovery of firearms, cash, and other exhibits.
According to the statement, the 11 suspects were arrested during a bush-combing operation around Akwocha Camp and adjoining forest corridors in Ubiaja, carried out in collaboration with the Nigerian Military and the Edo State Security Corps (ESSC).
“The Edo State Police Command wishes to inform the general public that as part of ongoing security assessment and strategic repositioning in Ekpoma, the Commissioner of Police, Edo State Command, CP Monday Agbonika, fdc, has ordered the reorganisation of the Ekpoma Division, and approved the posting of CSP Tomofe Nwabueze to assume office as the new DPO with immediate effect,” the statement read.
“Following a report of a suspected kidnapping along Old INEC Road, Ekpoma, received at about noon on 12th January, 2026, the new DPO immediately swung into action and deployed operational resources to track the caller.
“Technical intelligence and field investigations led to the arrest of the suspect, which later revealed a case of self-kidnapping.
“The suspect, one Obehi Odine ‘F’, aged 18, was arrested for staging her own kidnapping and demanding a ransom of Ten Million Naira (N10,000,000). She has confessed to the crime, admitting that the incident was deliberately fabricated to extort money.
“In a related operation in Ubiaja, the Command recorded another major operational success as Bush combing strategy yielded success. The Divisional Police Officer, Ubiaja personally led a coordinated bush-combing operation around Akwocha Camp and adjoining forest corridors, in collaboration with the Nigerian Military and the Edo State Security Corps (ESSC).
“A concealed forest enclave identified by the drone squadron through intelligence generated from air surveillance as a suspected kidnapping and logistics base, was stormed.
“This resulted in the arrest of eleven (11) male suspects believed to be members of an organized kidnapping syndicate.
“Exhibits recovered include twenty-four (24) Dane guns, seventeen (17) cutlasses, three (3) battle axes, gun powder, torchlights, mobile phones, solar panels, assorted charms, one Daylong motorcycle, and the sum of N209,700.00 cash, among other exhibits.
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“The Commissioner of Police, strongly warns members of the public against engaging in false kidnapping reports and other deceptive acts, noting that such actions waste critical security resources, divert attention from genuine emergencies, create unnecessary panic, and undermine public confidence, hence anyone caught will be prosecuted accordingly.
“He further reiterates the Command’s resolve to sustain technology-driven policing, aggressive forest domination, and intelligence-led operations to dismantle criminal networks across the state.
“Members of the public are encouraged to continue supporting the Police with timely and credible information through the following lines:
Emergency Control Room: 08077773721, 08037646272. Public Complaints Bureau (PCB): 08150999335. Complaints Response Unit (CRU): 08100389992.”