A middle aged woman, Yemi Samuel, has been arrested by men of the
Kwara State police command for arranging her own kidnap.
Yemi who was paraded before newsmen at the command’s headquarters in
Ilorin, the state capital, yesterday, explained that she arranged her
own kidnap in order to raise money from family members to assist her
husband who is a pensioner with the Kogi State Government.
Yemi said her husband has not received his pensions for many years
now, making life difficult for them.
She further explained that family members who are financially buoyant
have also refused to help them, hence reason for her arranged
kidnapped. She fled their home in Kogi State and travelled down to
Ilorin to hide since no one knew her there. She rented a one room
apartment where she began to contact her family members.
โI did it to help my husband raise money to start a business since the
Kogi State Government has refused to pay them and the family members
are not helping either. I know the family members have money and they
will raise the money if they tell them that I have been kidnapped.
I demanded for N1 million ransom but unfortunately I was arrested. I
know I am guilty but I saw it as the only way to get money since I
couldnโt secure job as a graduate of mathematics from the University
of Abeokuta,โ she lamented.
The state Commissioner of Police, Kayode Egbetokun, who paraded the
suspect alongside others, said Samuel hatched a self kidnapped
scenario but was arrested at the Kulende, Sango area of Ilorin after
she demanded N5million.
โShe reduced the money to N1million, effort was intensified and
N500,000 was arranged by her husband, as well as family and well
wishers. She directed them to take the money to Iluke town but she was
arrested before the transaction could be effected. She would be
arraigned in court soon,โ the CP said.
