The Nigeria Police Force, Ebonyi State Command, has arrested two suspects for allegedly conspiring to stage a kidnapping and demanding a ₦30 million ransom from the father of one of them.
The suspects were identified as Fortune Cletus Onuoha and Nkwo Godspower Chiemerie, popularly known as Hulk.
According to a statement issued on Saturday by the Police Public Relations Officer, Ebonyi State Command, SP Joshua Ukandu, the incident was reported on October 31, 2026, when Onuoha's father contacted the Command's Control Room at about 10:30 p.m., claiming that his son had been abducted from his hostel in Ikwo Local Government Area of the state.
The police said the father subsequently received view-once videos and voice notes purportedly showing his son tied up, alongside demands by the alleged kidnappers for a ransom of ₦30 million and threats to kill him if the money was not paid.
Following the report, operatives of the Command reportedly launched an intelligence-driven investigation to establish the circumstances surrounding the alleged abduction and identify those responsible.
The investigation, which involved sustained surveillance and discreet intelligence-gathering operations, culminated in the arrest of the two suspects on the night of November 5, 2026.
Ukandu said the suspects were apprehended as they emerged from the room where they had allegedly been hiding.
Reacting to the development, the Commissioner of Police, Ebonyi State Command, CP Hope Urunwa Okafor, warned members of the public against staging kidnappings or making fraudulent claims of abduction for financial gain.
Okafor described the act as a serious criminal scheme capable of inflicting severe psychological and emotional trauma on parents, guardians and other family members.
She further noted that such deceptive schemes unnecessarily divert police personnel and other security resources from addressing genuine security threats and protecting lives and property.
The police commissioner cautioned that anyone contemplating such criminal conduct should understand that staging a kidnapping and making false claims of abduction constitute offences punishable under the law.
The Command reiterated its commitment to combating crime and maintaining public safety across Ebonyi State, urging residents to provide credible information to security agencies to assist ongoing efforts to safeguard communities.
