The Anambra State Police Command has arrested two suspects for staging a fake kidnapping and attempting to extort money in the state.
According to reports, the two suspects, a 28-year-old female student at Enugu State University of Science and Technology named Chinecherem Okonkwo and a 30-year-old male named Chinecherem Aronu planned their own kidnapping and demanded a N10 million ransom from the family using an unidentified voice.
The Anambra State police spokesperson, SP Tochukwu Ikenga, made this revelation in a press release on Monday.
Ikenga said operatives of the Rapid Response Squad, acting on an intelligence-led investigation of a disturbing report of the alleged abduction of a female student, arrested the suspects at a lodge located at UNIZIK Temp Site, Awka.
The statement said, “The Anambra State Police Command has arrested two suspects involved in a self-orchestrated kidnap incident designed to extort money from the victim’s own family.
“The suspects are Chinecherem Okonkwo ‘f’ age 28years old and Chinecherem Aronu ‘m’ age 30years old
“Operatives of the Rapid Response Squad acting on an intelligence-led investigation of a disturbing report of alleged abduction of Chinecherem Nwaokoye, a female student of Enugu State University of Science and Technology (ESUT), stormed a lodge located at UNIZIK Temp Site, Awka, where the victim was found alive and in the company of her male accomplice.
“According to the report, Chinecherem had earlier contacted her family on Tuesday, July 8, 2025, informing them that she was returning home from school but never arrived.
“Her phone remained switched off throughout that day. On Wednesday, July 9, 2025, her family received a call from an unknown male voice who claimed responsibility for her kidnapping and demanded a ransom of ₦10 million only.
“After negotiations, the ransom was reduced to ₦3,000,000, and a part payment of ₦1,000,000 was later paid into the victim’s bank account.”
During questioning, the two admitted to planning the kidnapping as a scheme to defraud the victim’s family of their money, according to Ikenga.
