Pastor, wife nabbed for allegedly faking kidnapping
Story by Susan Mbamah
The Ondo State Police Command has arrested a pastor, Sanmori Olubumi Joshua, and his wife, Sanmori Taiwo, for allegedly staging a kidnapping to extort money from relatives.
According to Ayanlade Olushola, the command’s spokesperson, the couple planned the fake abduction on August 23. Taiwo reportedly confined herself in a room at their home while Joshua contacted family members, claiming his wife had been kidnapped by unknown gunmen who were demanding a ₦10 million ransom.
READ ALSO: Bride arrested for staging fake kidnapping to avoid repaying brother’s money
Relatives became suspicious and alerted the police. The Commissioner of Police, Adebowale Lawal, immediately dispatched the Special Anti-Kidnapping Squad (SAKS) to the couple’s residence. There, they found Taiwo, who “falsely claimed to have been released by kidnappers after a ransom of N5 million was paid,” according to a police statement.
Under further questioning, Mrs. Taiwo confessed that the abduction was staged to “extort money from relatives abroad, intending to settle debts and meet personal needs.”
READ ALSO: Student fakes own kidnapping, demands ₦50m ransom from mother
The couple is currently under investigation, and the police noted that legal action will follow. The police command thanked the public for their cooperation and restated their commitment to fighting all forms of crime, whether staged or real, to ensure public safety.
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