Boyfriend Arrested Over Kidnap Plot
Police in Delta State have arrested a 23-year-old man, Terry Ogbonna, over an alleged plot with his friends to kidnap his 16-year-old girlfriend and demand 50 million naira in ransom from her mother.
The police spokesperson, Superintendent of Police Bright Edafe, disclosed the case in a video shared on X, explaining how an apparent kidnapping incident triggered panic in the estate where the teenager’s parents live.
According to the police, investigations allegedly revealed that the girl’s boyfriend was involved in the plot.
Mediaplusng.com reports that the teenager told investigators she had previously rejected her boyfriend’s suggestion to fake her kidnapping to obtain money from her mother.
She said she later discovered a ransom-related message on her phone after one of the suspect’s friends allegedly took the device.
The girl also told police that she was taken to a riverside, where she was allegedly threatened with being thrown into the water if her mother failed to pay 50 million naira.
During questioning, Ogbonna reportedly admitted discussing the kidnapping plan with a friend identified as Lucky. However, he claimed that they initially changed their minds, but his friends allegedly proceeded after seeing the girl.
Police also alleged that the suspects attempted to frame another estate resident, identified as Theophilus, by portraying him as the mastermind behind the incident.
Theophilus was reportedly arrested and detained for two days before investigators uncovered information that led them to the other suspects.
In another revelation, the police spokesperson said Ogbonna claimed he did not know that sexual activity involving a person under 18 could constitute an offence. His statement does not determine whether any offence occurred; that depends on the applicable law and the facts established by investigators.
The case raises concerns about child protection, alleged kidnapping plots and the dangers of using threats to extort money from families.
The police investigation is ongoing, and the allegations against the suspect have yet to be established in court.
