Young Enugu Man Arrested for Staging His Own Kidnapping, Demands N35 Million Ransom from Family

In a bizarre turn of events, the Enugu State Police have arrested a 26-year-old man, Chibuike Joshua Ugwuja, for allegedly staging his own kidnapping and demanding a staggering Thirty-Five Million Naira (N35,000,000) from his family.

According to a statement from the command’s spokesperson, SP Daniel Ndukwe, the drama began on 22nd November 2025, when Ugwuja, who works as a private security guard in Trans-Ekulu, reportedly left for work and never returned. Concerned, his father filed a report with the Trans-Ekulu Police Division on 24th November 2025, alerting officers to his disappearance.

SP Ndukwe revealed that the suspect had also sent a Facebook message to a female neighbour, claiming he had been abducted by unknown assailants in a commercial bus, and that his kidnappers were demanding a huge ransom.

“While investigations and search operations were ongoing, the suspect was brought to the Police Station by his father on 30th November 2025 at about 2 p.m.,” SP Ndukwe stated. “Upon interrogation, the suspect confessed to orchestrating the entire plot himself.”

According to the police, Ugwuja admitted that instead of returning home after work, he went to a friend’s residence in Amorji Nike, Enugu, and staged the fake kidnapping. He claimed he had demanded N35 million from his family but returned home on 29th November 2025 after his ransom demands were not met. Ugwuja reportedly told investigators that frustration over his uncle’s alleged failure to procure a tricycle for him had motivated his actions.

The Enugu State Police confirmed that Ugwuja is now in custody and will be arraigned in court once investigations are complete. SP Ndukwe emphasized the force’s commitment to ensuring that individuals who cause unnecessary panic or abuse public trust are held accountable under the law.

This unusual case serves as a stark reminder of the lengths some individuals may go to out of desperation or personal grievances, leaving families and communities in shock.