Police arrest driver for staging his own kidnap in Edo State

A 26-year-old driver, Henry Alwansedo has been arrested by the Edo state Police command for allegedly masterminding his own kidnap to extort money from his employer.

Edo state Police Spokesperson, Mr. Anthony Airhuoyo, confirmed the arrest in Benin city on Friday.

Airhuoyo explained that the driver’s employer, Mr. Joshua Agbede, who is into bakery business on December 12, reported the alleged kidnap to the police at Western Boys High School, Ikpoba Hill, Benin, Edo state.

He said Henry Alwansedo was allegedly abducted while returning from where he went to supply bread to customers.

“Alwansedo spoke with his wife on phone, telling her that after much negotiation, the kidnappers demanded a N150, 000 ransom, which Mr. Agbede eventually gave to the wife,” Airhuoyo said.

He said the police became suspicious of the whole incident, hence leading to the arrest of the driver by operatives attached to the Anti- Kidnapping Section of the command on January 2, 2013.

“During interrogation, the driver made a confessional statement that he was not actually kidnapped but rather fell into the hands of fraudsters based in Lagos,” he said.

Airhuoyo added that the driver further confessed that N116,300 which he collected from customers and the NI50,000 purportedly paid as ransom were given to the fraudsters.

“The police discovered that the driver stage- managed all his plans without the knowledge of his wife,” the PPRO said.

He however assured that the driver would be prosecuted as soon as police completes its investigations on the matter.