Police arrest man for kidnapping self, demanding N10m ransom

• Gamade was arrested alongside his accomplice, one Frank Thompson, on Tuesday, November 5th, after receiving N2m ransom.
• The suspects confessed to staging the abduction during interrogation by the police.

In Bayelsa State, one Biobarakumo Gamade has been apprehended for allegedly faking his abduction and demanded N10m from his brother, the police have said.

Gamade was arrested alongside his accomplice, one Frank Thompson, on Tuesday, November 5th, after receiving N2m ransom.

The suspects confessed to staging the abduction during interrogation by the police.

The State Commissioner of Police, Alonyenu Francis Idu, made this known while parading the suspect at the state police command headquarters, on Wednesday.

He disclosed that a case of alleged kidnapping was reported by one Mr. Gemade Esua Igoniamine in October, and a search began.

According to him, a search was carried out, and there was no trace through the security surveillance cameras at the point where the kidnapping occurred or the exit of the state.

He said, “We got a distress call that a black jeep with military personnel kidnapped a man; we searched all our cameras, and no car of such identity was seen. Later, we got a call from someone who claimed to have kidnapped a victim, demanding a N10 million ransom.

“The operatives of the anti-kidnapping swung into action, leading to the arrest of Frank Thompson, who hails from Nembe Local Government Area, through the ransom that was paid.

He added: “Upon interrogation, the suspects revealed that they staged the kidnapping to enable them to collect ransom.

“They had earlier demanded for N10 m random, but two million naira was paid, which was used to trace them to the hotel where they had lodged outside the state.”

The Commissioner of Police used the medium to appreciate Bayelsans, youth groups, and other partners who have joined the command in ensuring crime and criminality are nipped in the bud.

He assured residents that the police will not stop in the fight of making Bayelsa a safe place