In a startling case that has drawn widespread attention, a 16-year-old Senior Secondary School 2 (SS2) student in Abakaliki, Ebonyi State, has been accused of faking her own abduction in a bid to extort money from her family.
According to the Ebonyi State Police Command, the teenage girl, who attends a private secondary school situated along Watchman Street in the capital city, allegedly orchestrated the hoax with the help of a family friend. She reportedly contacted a relative with claims of being kidnapped and demanded a ransom of ₦2 million for her “release.”
The Police Public Relations Officer for the Ebonyi Command, Joshua Ukandu, confirmed the incident to reporters on Monday. He stated that the girl hails from Izzi Local Government Area and was scheduled to resume school for the third term over the weekend.
During interrogation, the girl told police that she had gone out to buy second-hand clothes—popularly referred to as ‘Okirika’—when she was suddenly tapped from behind. According to her, she then lost consciousness and mysteriously woke up the following day at Ishieke Junction in Ebonyi Local Government Area.
She further claimed that she frequently had dreams about being kidnapped, and that her mother often prayed for her protection. Instead of heading home after “regaining consciousness,” she made her way to the residence of a family friend who, according to police, was unaware of the alleged hoax at first.
Using the man’s mobile phone, the teenager sent a message to her brother, falsely claiming she had been kidnapped and demanding a ₦2 million ransom. When her brother asked to speak with the supposed abductors and requested their location, she refused to cooperate and subsequently blocked his number.
However, she later unblocked him and forwarded an account number—belonging to the family friend—where the ransom money was to be paid. That move triggered suspicion, prompting law enforcement officers to swing into action.
Through a swift digital trace of the phone used for the messages, police tracked the location and raided the residence. The girl and everyone involved in the plan were arrested during the operation.
Police have since reunited the student with her family, but the matter remains under active investigation as authorities determine the full extent of involvement of all parties.
PPRO Ukandu noted that the incident serves as a sobering reminder of the growing need for awareness around the misuse of digital tools and the lengths some individuals may go for financial gain.
