Student fakes kidnap, demands N50m ransom

Delta State Police Command has arrested Nelson Eserada, a 400-level student of Banking and Finance of the Delta State University, Abraka for arranging his own abduction.

The student had demanded a ransom of fifty million naira (N50,000,000) in bitcoin, according to the police.

The spokesperson for the Delta State Police Command, Bright Edafe made this known in a statement on Thursday, noting that the suspect’s father had already paid a sum of N5 million through a bitcoin account belonging to his son’s accomplice, Jerry Lawrence.

Edafe said the suspects were in custody and that an investigation was ongoing.

He said, “Following complaints received from the father of one Nelson Eserada ‘M’ at Abraka Division that his son Nelson Eserada was kidnapped and that the kidnappers were demanding a ransom of Fifty million naira (#50,000,000) in bitcoin. The suspect also sent a video of the supposed victim tied and being tortured.

“The DPO Abraka SP Fabian Ayameh swiftly moved into action, embarked on a technical intelligence-led investigation and on 10/06/2024 at about 2000hrs, one Jerry Lawrence ‘M’ of Jeddo Community Warri was arrested in connection with the crime.

“Preliminary investigation revealed that the suspect conspired with the said Nelson Eserada a 400 Level Student of Banking & Finance Department of the Delta State University Abraka and that the father had already paid the sum of Five Million and Two Hundred Thousand Naira ransom through a Bitcoin account belonging to the principal suspect Jerry Lawrence. The suspects are in custody and investigation is ongoing.

“CP Abaniwonda urged parents to train and take care of their children., he noted that children when not raised properly may grow up and become problems to their parents. He also urged youths to stay away from the get-rich-quick syndrome, noting that crime does not pay.

“Similarly, following complaints of house-to-house armed robbery incidents received from residents in Bonsaac, Okwe and other areas in the metropolis, the Commissioner of Police CP Abaniwonda Olufemi deployed a new DPO to ‘B’ division Asaba with a clear mandate to identify, and arrest those responsible.

“Consequently, on 08/06/2024 at about 0340hrs, the newly posted DPO CSP Edewor Akponegware received credible information from a concerned resident (name withheld) that he cited some suspicious-looking boys around the Mango Tree Market and that they were armed.

“The DPO immediately led patrol teams of the division to the scene and in the process the following suspects were arrested, John Dalami “M” age 25yrs, Musa Suleiman “M” age 25yrs, Abdullahi Jibril “M” age 20yrs, Solomon Uchechukwu “M” age 24yrs, Yusuf Joda “M” age 21yrs, Egboka Chukwu Charles “M” age 21yrs and Wisdom Syvester “M” age 21yrs searched was conducted at scene and following items were recovered a bako bag containing a Locally Made Cut to Size Gun, one Live Cartridge.

“The suspects stated that they have been involved in a series of house-to-house armed robbery operations at Issele-Asagba, Coka, and Ibusa. The case was then transferred to the special Anti-Kidnapping and Cybercrime squad for further investigation.

“Acting on the confessions of the suspects, they led the operatives to their hideout at the back of DDPA estate Asaba where six additional suspects were arrested and three locally made cut-to-size guns were recovered. Investigation is ongoing.”