By Austin Ogwuda
MEN of the Delta State Police Command said they have arrested a 400 level Student of the Delta State University (DELSU), Abraka, Nigeria, who feigned that he was kidnap, demanding N50m ransom from the father in the process.
Although the anxious father quickly mobilised and paid N5.2 m out of the demanded ransom, Police were able to uncover the deceitful plot.
Delta State Police Command’s spokesman, Bright Edafe, a Superintendent of Police (SP) gave a vivid account on how the boy feigned the purported kidnap in a statement in Asaba Thursday.
The statement read, “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 (N50,000,000) 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 (male) 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”, the statement added.
