The Ondo State Police Command has arrested a 29-year-old man, Bello Azeez, for allegedly staging his own abduction in order to extort money from his family and acquaintances .
Police spokesperson DSP Olushola Ayanlade, who confirmed the incident in a statement on Saturday, said Azeez, a native of Ipele in Owo Local Government Area, devised the scheme after his father refused to lend him ₦500,000 to repay a debt.
According to investigators, Azeez pretended to be travelling to Ibadan, Oyo State, on August 11, 2025, before placing distressed phone calls to relatives, claiming that he had been kidnapped. He reportedly begged for ransom money to secure his release.
Disturbed by the situation, his family and friends quickly mobilised resources, even launching a GoFundMe account, through which they eventually raised ₦500,000. On Azeez’s instructions, the money was paid directly into his personal bank account — a detail that raised suspicions, as kidnappers rarely demand ransom payments into victims’ accounts.
The family subsequently alerted the police. Detectives tracked the phone number used during the negotiations and discovered that Azeez never left Owo town throughout the period of his alleged captivity.
He was arrested shortly afterwards and, during interrogation, confessed to masterminding the fake abduction. The police confirmed that he will be charged to court once investigations are concluded.
In his statement, DSP Ayanlade said:
“This case underscores the dangers of greed, deceit, and the lure of quick wealth, which often push individuals into acts capable of ruining their future. Parents and guardians are urged to guide their children against crime, peer influence, and moral decadence.”
The Ondo State Police Command urged members of the public to remain vigilant, reject all forms of deception, and continue cooperating with law enforcement agencies to promote peace and security across the state.