Police uncover fake kidnap plot by pregnant woman in Ogun

The Ogun State Police Command made a surprising disclosure on Monday, stating that the alleged kidnapping of Rahemat Lateef, a pregnant woman reportedly while heading to the state hospital in Ijaiye, Abeokuta, was a fabricated story.

SP Omolola Odutola, the State Police spokesperson, disclosed on her X handle that Mrs. Lateef, following a miscarriage, opted to stage her kidnapping to evade her husband’s anticipated displeasure and ire, rather than face the reality of her situation.

According to SP Omolola Odutola, the recurring miscarriages had taken a devastating toll on Rahemat, prompting her to flee to Kwara State and later return to Abeokuta with her father, and in a desperate measure, fabricate the kidnapping story to avoid facing her husband and the harsh reality of her situation.

Odutola provided further updates on the incident, stating, “Rahemat Lateef, whom her husband reported as abducted, was never kidnapped. She planned her trip to Kwara State to escape her husband’s reaction, due to her repeated miscarriages. She orchestrated the story herself, travelling to Kwara State. She was far from being kidnapped.”

The anti-kidnapping unit tracked her movements until she resurfaced. “She is under medical care and is safe,” Odutola added.

Last Thursday, Rahemat’s husband, Ogunbunmi Lateef, reported receiving a WhatsApp message indicating his wife’s abduction by unknown gunmen. Odutola confirmed the initial report, noting, “One Ogunbunmi Lateef of Oke Lantoro reported that his pregnant wife, due for delivery, left home for the State Hospital, Ijaiye, Abeokuta. He received a WhatsApp message confirming the abduction of his wife by unknown armed men.”

This incident, initially reported as a kidnapping, ultimately revealed a more complex and poignant truth – a heart-wrenching cry for help from a woman struggling to cope with the emotional and psychological toll of multiple miscarriages, shedding light on the often-hidden challenges and deep personal pain endured by those experiencing recurrent pregnancy loss.