BENIN CITY, June 8, 2026 – A married woman identified as Oluchi, who allegedly staged her own kidnapping and demanded a ransom of millions of naira from her family, has been found in a hotel in Delta State with her lover, according to the police.
The incident, which initially sparked widespread concern among family members, friends, and well-wishers, took a dramatic turn after investigators traced the case to a hotel in Ubiaroko, Delta State, where the woman was reportedly discovered in the company of a male companion.
Oluchi's family had earlier reported to the police that she was abducted in the Ikpoba Hill area of Ikpoba-Okha Local Government Area of Edo State. The alleged kidnappers initially demanded a ransom of N50 million before later reducing the amount to N20 million.
In a bid to secure her release, family members launched appeals for public assistance and mobilised support from friends and associates. Her daughter, Anita, who resides in Canada, was among those who publicly appealed for help and raised awareness about the supposed abduction.
However, police investigations reportedly uncovered a different narrative. A security source disclosed that investigators tracked the phone number of a suspect linked to the case and eventually located both the woman and her alleged lover at a hotel in Delta State.
"Police traced the number of the man to a hotel in Ubiaroko. They found the man and the woman together in the hotel and immediately took them into custody," the source said.
According to the source, the woman's husband was contacted by the police and informed of the development after arriving at the station.
The revelation has left the family devastated.
Speaking in an online video after learning of the outcome of the investigation, Anita expressed shock and disappointment, saying the incident had shattered the family's trust and reputation.
"My mum has been released. My mum is involved in this kidnapping case. I only did what I did to save my mom," she said. "The family is in shock. This is not right. This has shattered my family."
She added that no ransom was eventually paid and that funds raised during efforts to secure her mother's release would be refunded.
"We now know it was not a real kidnapping. The money is intact, and we are going to make a refund," Anita stated.
The incident also drew a reaction from the Harmony Ladies Club, a social organisation to which Anita belongs. In a statement circulated to members and journalists, the group expressed disappointment and described the alleged deception as a betrayal of the support extended to the family.
The club noted that its members had provided emotional, logistical, and financial assistance after learning of the reported abduction, believing that a genuine life-threatening situation existed.
"It is with a profound sense of betrayal that we have now discovered, through investigations, that the entire kidnapping incident was staged," the statement said.
Confirming the development, the spokesperson for the Edo State Police Command, Eno Ikoedem, said four persons had been arrested in connection with the case.
"I can confirm the incident and also let you know that four people have been arrested in connection with the incident," she said.
Police authorities have not disclosed the identities of the other suspects or the specific charges they may face as investigations continue.
The case has generated widespread reactions on social media, with many expressing sympathy for the woman's family while calling for appropriate legal action against those found culpable.
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