A 16-year-old secondary school student in Ebonyi State has been caught faking her own kidnapping and demanding a ransom of N2 million from her family. The student, an SS2 pupil at a private school in Abakaliki, allegedly conspired with a family friend to stage the fake abduction.
*Details of the Incident*
The girl contacted her brother using the family friend's phone, claiming she had been kidnapped and demanding the ransom. When her brother asked to speak with the supposed kidnappers and requested their location, she refused and blocked his number. Later, she sent him a bank account number belonging to the family friend with instructions to pay the ransom.
*Police Investigation*
The police were able to track the phone used to send the messages, leading to a raid on the house where the girl was hiding. Everyone involved was arrested, and the girl was reunited with her family. According to the police spokesperson, DSP Joshua Ukandu, the girl claimed she had gone to buy second-hand clothes when someone tapped her from behind, and she lost consciousness. She allegedly woke up at Ishieke Junction in Ebonyi Local Government Area and asked for directions back to town ¹ ².
*Ongoing Probe*
The police have launched a full investigation into the incident, and the matter remains under review due to the girl's age. Authorities are treating the case delicately, but legal steps may follow based on the outcome of the probe. This incident highlights a growing concern about the influence of digital platforms on young Nigerians, with experts flagging the need for strengthened education and public-private partnerships to combat cyber-enabled misconduct ³.
