Edo police arrest 21-year-old dispatch officer for staging own kidnap after losing N1.3m belonging to his company and customer to online betting
The Edo nation Police Command has arrested a 21-12 months-vintage dispatch officer for staging own kidnapping after losing N1.3m belonging to his organization and a patron via on line playing on a visible sporty making a bet platform.
The spokesperson of the command, ASP Eno Ikoedem, who disclosed this in a announcement on Monday, February nine, 2026 stated the suspect, David Ekes, travelled to Abuja after losing the money, offered his cell telephone, lodged in a inn, and deliberately staged his personal kidnapping to cowl up the monetary loss.
in line with the PPRO, the suspect was once to start with reported lacking through his family on January 27, whilst his bike was once later observed parked along a street.
while police research used to be ongoing, Ekes back on his personal, alleging that he was once abducted with the aid of 3 unidentified guys, compelled to trek barefoot via the forest for over 3 days, at some stage in which his cell telephone used to be taken and budget withdrawn from his First financial institution account.
“The Edo country Police Command has uncovered a staged kidnapping following a record of a lacking individual concerning an employee of Dibecs enterprise limited, placed at Km 162, Auchi–Okene parkway, Okpella,” the announcement read.
“On 30/01/2026 at approximately 1600hrs, one Moses Ekes ‘M’, of Dibecs enterprise confined, suggested on the Okpella Police division that his nephew, David Ekes ‘M’, aged 21 years, a dispatch officer with the business enterprise, dark in complexion, approximately 5ft tall, and fluent in Ijaw and English languages, have been missing in view that 27/01/2026 at approximately 2030hrs.
“according to the file, the stated David Ekes left his quarters by myself on a black, unregistered bike from factory 2 to manufacturing unit 3, opposite to corporation coverage, and was not visible or heard from thereafter. The bike was later discovered parked alongside the street main to manufacturing unit 3 and subsequently recovered to the employer’s fundamental workplace.
“Following the document, operatives of the Okpella Police department directly visited the scene, performed a thorough seek of the surrounding bush vicinity, and documented applicable findings, even as investigation commenced straight away.
“however, in a flip of occasions, on 31/01/2026 at about 0800hrs, records used to be received that the missing individual had lower back on his personal and was reportedly vulnerable. He was once taken to a sanatorium in Okpella, in which Police operatives visited and monitored his situation.
“Upon his discharge, the suspect to begin with volunteered his announcement alleging that he used to be kidnapped by 3 unidentified men, compelled to trek barefoot via the woodland for over 3 days, all through which his Tecno Camon cell cellphone was taken and finances withdrawn from his First financial institution account.
“Discrete research, however, has found out that between 25/01/2026 and 26/01/2026, the suspect lost a complete sum of N1,308,000.00, belonging to his enterprise and a customer, through on line gambling on a visible sporty betting platform, he then right away travelled to Abuja, bought his mobile cellphone, lodged in a resort, and deliberately staged his very own kidnapping to cover up the economic loss. The suspect has considering that confessed to the crime and will be arraigned in court docket to function a deterrent to others.”
The Commissioner of Police, Edo nation Command, CP Monday Agbonika, warns individuals of the general public in opposition to fake distress reviews and acts of crook deception, noting that such actions undermine public self belief and waste necessary safety resources.
He further counseled youths involved in playing to accomplish that responsibly, as addiction often results in desperation and crook dispositions.
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