The Ondo State Police Command has apprehended a 29-year-old man, Bello Azeez, for allegedly faking his own kidnapping to obtain money from his family and friends.
Police spokesperson, Olayinka Ayanlade, explained that Azeez, who hails from Ipele in Owo Local Government Area, devised the scheme after his father refused to give him ₦500,000 to settle a debt.
According to the police, on August 11, Azeez pretended he was travelling to Ibadan and later began placing distress calls, claiming he had been abducted. In response, his parents and associates launched a GoFundMe campaign and, along with personal contributions, raised ₦500,000 for his “release.”
Shockingly, Azeez instructed them to transfer the supposed ransom directly into his personal bank account—a move that eventually raised suspicion.
“Relatives grew doubtful when they realised it was unusual for kidnappers to demand payment into the victim’s own account,” Ayanlade noted, adding that the family then reported the matter to the police.
Officers traced the phone number he used and discovered that Azeez never left Owo during the period he claimed to be in captivity.
