The Ondo State Police Command has arrested a 42-year-old woman, Mrs. Sanmori Taiwo, and her 62-year-old husband, Pastor Sanmori Olubumi Joshua, for allegedly staging her own kidnapping to extort N10 million from her relatives abroad.
DSP Olushola Ayanlade, the Command’s Spokesperson, disclosed in a statement on Wednesday in Akure that the incident occurred on August 23 between 4 p.m. and 5 p.m. at the couple’s residence on Road 5, PowerLine, Ondo City.
According to Ayanlade, Taiwo deliberately secluded herself in a separate room after conspiring with her husband to fake her abduction.
Her husband then called her relatives using her phone number, claiming she had been kidnapped by unknown gunmen who demanded N10 million ransom for her release.
The statement read, “Suspicious of the claims, one of the relatives, Mr Fasegha O. Joseph, through a written petition, reported the matter to the Commissioner of Police, CP Adebowale Lawal, who directed the Command’s Special Anti-Kidnapping Squad (SAKS).
“Acting swiftly on the report, an investigation team from the Command’s anti-kidnapping squad, supported by Enu-owa Division in Ondo City, proceeded to Sanmori’s residence in Ondo Town, where Mrs Taiwo was found.
“She falsely claimed to have just been released by kidnappers after a ransom of Five Million Naira was allegedly paid.
“Upon further interrogation at the Command, Mrs Taiwo confessed that the abduction was staged as a self-kidnapping scheme, masterminded to extort money from her relatives abroad under the pretense of securing her release.”
“She further admitted that her motive was to settle debts and provide for her personal needs,” he said.
Ayanlade stated that Taiwo and her husband are currently under investigation and will face appropriate legal action.
He added that the case highlights the unwavering commitment of the Ondo State Police Command, led by CP Adebowale Lawal.
“We will diligently unravel all forms of criminality, whether real or staged, in order to preserve peace, protect lives, and safeguard the integrity of communities within the state,” Ayanlade added.
