The Ondo State Police Command has arrested a 42-year-old woman, Mrs. Sanmori Taiwo, and her husband, 62-year-old Pastor Sanmori Joshua, for allegedly faking her abduction to extort a ₦10 million ransom from her relatives residing abroad.
According to a statement from the state Police Public Relations Officer, DSP Olushola Ayanlade, the incident unfolded on August 23 at the couple’s residence on Road 5, PowerLine, in Ondo City, reports Nigerian Tribune.
Ayanlade revealed that Taiwo secluded herself in a room while her husband contacted her relatives, falsely claiming she had been kidnapped by unknown gunmen.
The plot was uncovered when one of the relatives, Mr. Fasegha O. Joseph, grew suspicious and filed a formal petition to the Commissioner of Police, CP Adebowale Lawal. The Commissioner immediately directed the Special Anti-Kidnapping Squad (SAKS) to investigate the matter.
Acting on the report, operatives, assisted by officers from the Enu-owa Division, stormed the couple’s home and located the woman. She initially lied, claiming she had just been released by her kidnappers after a ₦5 million ransom was paid.
However, during further interrogation at the Command, Mrs. Taiwo confessed that she and her husband orchestrated the staged kidnapping to extort money from her family overseas. She admitted that her motive was to settle personal debts and cater to her needs.
The couple remains in police custody and will face charges following the conclusion of the investigation.
DSP Ayanlade reiterated the command’s commitment to tackling all forms of criminality, whether real or staged, to ensure peace and safeguard the integrity of communities in the state.
