I faked my own kidnap to get money from my parents — Suspect

A 29-year-old fake kidnap suspect, Segun Mafimidowo, on Thursday confessed that he faked his alleged kidnap in order to get money from his parents.

Mafimidowo said this during the parade of 42 suspected criminals at the Ogun State Police Command headquarters, Eleweran, Abeokuta.

He said that he connived with some of his friends to demand a sum of N8 million ransom from his parents under the pretence that he had been kidnapped by some gunmen in the Sagamu area of the state.

Parading the suspects, the Police Public Relations Officer in the state, Abimbola Oyeyemi, said, Mafimidowo, also sent pictures of where he was tied on both hands to his parents.

“The purported abductors later sent an account number of one Ogbu Abraham to which he directed the parents to pay the ransom. But the anti-kidnapping section of the command embarked on a technical-based investigation which led to where Segun Mafimidowo and his so-called abductors, who are all his friends were hibernating.”

While speaking during the parade, Mafimidowo said, “I wanted to get some money from my parents that was why I faked my abduction.

“I sought help from my friends who agreed to help me act as abductors. I regret my action.”

Meanwhile, the police command paraded the other suspected criminals who had been terrorising the state for various crimes, such as cult clashes, rape, murder, and kidnapping among others.

Oyeyemi during the parade said the suspects were arrested at different locations such as Abeokuta, Sagamu and Ijebu-Ode axis of the state for cultism, murder, kidnapping and rapping.

He disclosed that his men arrested 42 suspects between April and June with various exhibits such as three locally made single barrel guns; one locally made double barrel gun; five live cartridges; four classes; 2 scissors and an axe.

Oyeyemi said the arrests of the suspects were part of the command’s efforts at suppressing the menace of cultism and other vices across the state, particularly cult clashes in some parts of the state.