‘Not All Kidnap Cases Are Real’ — CP Igweh Says As Pregnant Wife, Corps Member Allegedly Fake Abduction In Abuja

On the heels of the growing insecurity across country, and ongoing measures to curtail it, the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Police Commissioner, CP Benneth Igweh has revealed a trend of staged kidnap cases in the city.

He disclosed this on Wednesday while parading suspects who allegedly staged their kidnap, and/or connived with someone to the fake kidnap and demand ransom.

CP Igweh, while addressing the press highlighted the case of a pregnant woman, Rosemary Ubah who connived with a man residing in the same street with them to stage her kidnap and demand ransom.

Rosemary left her residence on March 11, purportedly headed to a hospital for an ultra scan procedure and never returned.

Her worried spouse, Chiedozie Ubah reported the situation at the Gwa Gwa police division; He
subsequently received a call from her supposed captor informing him that she had been abducted.

The caller demanded N2m ransom for her freedom, which Ubah paid in full into Rosemary’s account.

When his wife was released, Ubah took her to the police station where she was interrogated.

“During interrogation, the wife freely confessed to having conspired with one man named Walter Ezeala ‘m’ living in the same street with them at Saburi to extort money from her husband,” CP Igwe said.

The police arrested Ezeala and he confessed to receiving N800,000 as proceeds of the deal, while Rosemary got N1.2m.

The police recovered the sum of N793,500, two FCMB ATM cards and two Android phones from Ezeala.

Ezeala who was paraded by the police in Abuja, told THE WHISTLER that the said woman had approached him crying, demanding help to execute the plan, noting he has evidence to back his claims.

The police had paraded only Ezeala following a plea by Rosemary’s husband.

“The woman is here, but the husband begged that he does not want her to be shown to you people (press),” CP Igweh mentioned.

Ezeala described her absence as unjust, having masterminded the plan.

He told THE WHISTLER, “I do not know why she is not here to answer questions. She is supposed to be here, having staged all these things.

“Everything was masterminded by her. If you go through my phone, you will see where she said that she had planned everything, and she had the time frame. I am just an accomplice.”

When asked what his relationship with Rosemary was, he said, “She is just a friend.”

A similar case was also highlighted during the parade on Wednesday — One of Pascal Akuh, a 28-year-old serving member of the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) in Abuja.

On March 14, Pascal’s older brother, Chinemezeh Akuh reported at Apo Divisional Headquarters that his younger brother called him saying he was arrested by Police and taken to SCID custody.

The police and the suspect’s family went to SCID, IRT and FCID detention facilities, but discovered he was not in any of the facilities.

“With the help of a tracker using coordinates, the suspect’s vehicle was traced to an area in Wumba, Apo.

“Acting on this intelligence, the police operatives from Apo Division swiftly mobilised to the scene, searched the entire axis and subsequently traced the suspect to a hotel in Lokogoma later in the night and arrested the suspect.

“During interrogation, the suspect confessed that he only faked his kidnap to prank the lady he intended to marry to know if she really loves him,” CP Igwe said.

When queried by the press, Pascal said he had no intention to stir a scare. He admitted contacting his brother after he was stopped by some police operatives while on his way to his Community Development Service (CDS) programme.

He said the operatives told him he would be taken to the SCID, but was later released to continue his journey. He, however, said he failed to update his brother and thought to take advantage of the situation to measure his partner’s affection for him.

The police said all the suspects would be charged in court soon.

Speaking to FCT residents, CP Igweh said, “Not every kidnap is a kidnap. So, when they report a case of kidnap to you, report it to the police. If they demand ransom, contact the police before paying.

“I equally want to plead with the residents that most of the information you hear, please clear from us, because of the peace you enjoy in Abuja, some will raise fake rumours (sic).

“Whenever you are fighting crime, crime will fight back.

“I want to conclude by reassuring you that the FCT Police Command, under my leadership, will do all within our power to prevent crime and criminality in all of its forms and ensure the safety of all.

“This can be effectively achieved only with the utmost cooperation of the residents of FCT.”