A 16-year-old Senior Secondary School (SS2) student in Ebonyi State has been apprehended by the police for faking her own abduction and demanding a ransom of N2 million from her family.
The teenager, a student of a private school located on Watchman Street in Abakaliki, was said to have orchestrated the plot in collaboration with a family friend. The Ebonyi State Police Command confirmed the incident on Monday, May 12, 2025.
According to the Command’s Public Relations Officer, Joshua Ukandu, the girl hails from Izzi Local Government Area and was supposed to resume for the third term on Saturday. However, rather than return to school, she allegedly staged her disappearance.
“She claimed she was tapped from behind while shopping for second-hand clothes, known as ‘Okirika,’ and then lost consciousness,” Ukandu stated. “She further alleged that she regained consciousness the next day at Ishieke Junction in Ebonyi Local Government Area.”
Rather than heading home, the girl proceeded to the residence of a family friend, who police say was unaware of the plot. Using his phone, she contacted her brother, claiming she had been kidnapped and demanded N2 million for her release.
When the brother requested to speak with the kidnappers and asked for their location, the girl allegedly refused and blocked his number. She later unblocked him and sent an account number for the ransom payment — an account linked to the unsuspecting family friend.
The police, however, were able to trace the phone used to send the messages. Officers raided the location, apprehending the girl and the individuals involved.
Ukandu said investigations are ongoing and that the police are working to determine the full extent of involvement by all parties. The girl has since been reunited with her family, but due to her age, authorities are handling the case with caution.
He also advised parents and guardians to pay closer attention to the behavioral patterns of their children, noting that the rising trend of fake abductions poses a serious challenge to law enforcement.
