The Police in Niger have arrested a 39- years-old Mohammed Mohammed and his wife, Sadiya Ibrahim Umar, 31, for alleged conspiracy and self kidnapping.
Spokesperson of the Police, Wasiu Abiodun, said this was the third of its kind in recent times in the state.
Narrating the incident, Abiodun said Sadiya was reported to have been kidnapped by an unknown persons on 15 July 2021, after she boarded a tricycle at Challenge Junction, Maitumbi going to Old Airport road Minna after closing from work at Umar Bn khattab International School, Maitumbi.
He said Sadiya’s father was contacted by an unknown caller demanding N5 million ransom, but was later reduced to N1 million and was dropped at a location in Rafin-yashi, Minna.
The spokesperson said Sadiya re-surfaced on the six days later and was invited by the Police for questioning, when she confessed to have conspired with her husband to fake her kidnap and was taken to Nugupi village via Paiko where she was kept by her husband at his friend’s place.
Abiodun said the husband also confessed to the crime. “He said he collected his wife’s phone and handed it over to his friend, one Abdullahi who negotiated and collected the ransom on his behalf.”
The police spokesperson said investigation had begun on the incident, and effort was ongoing to arrest Abdullahi.
He said the suspects would be arraigned in court after conclusion of investigation.