The Benue State Police Command has arrested a young woman for allegedly staging a fake kidnapping to extort money from her mother, the command’s spokesperson confirmed on Wednesday.
How the Plot Unfolded
DSP Orchia Peter Aondongu, the command’s Public Relations Officer, stated in a press release that the suspect, Mary Torkuma, was taken into custody alongside her accomplice, Evergreen Samuel. The arrest followed an intelligence-driven investigation by operatives of the Violence Crime Response Unit (VCRU).
According to the police, the case was officially reported on July 15, 2026. Mary Torkuma, a resident of Akpehe in Makurdi, had left her apartment on July 12, 2026, telling her family she was visiting a friend in the North Bank area of the state capital. The following day, her mother, who lives in Lagos State, received a phone call from an unknown number. The caller claimed that her daughter had been kidnapped and demanded a ransom payment for her release.
Investigation Leads to Hotel
Acting swiftly on the report, VCRU operatives launched an investigation that traced the suspects to a hotel in the Ankpa Quarters area of Makurdi. There, they found Mary Torkuma together with Evergreen Samuel, who had travelled from Abia State to participate in the scheme. Preliminary investigations revealed that the two women allegedly conspired to stage the kidnapping with the sole aim of deceiving Torkuma’s mother into paying a ransom.
The suspects are currently in police custody as investigations continue. Police officials stated that upon the conclusion of the investigation, the two women will be charged to court for their alleged criminal act.
Police Commissioner Warns Public
Reacting to the incident, the Commissioner of Police in Benue State, CP Cletus C.N. Nwadiogbu, issued a stern warning to members of the public against engaging in criminal acts, including staging fake kidnapping incidents. He emphasized that such actions divert critical security resources away from genuine emergencies and are punishable under Nigerian law.
The commissioner reiterated the command’s commitment to intelligence-led policing and urged residents to report any suspicious activities promptly to the nearest police station or through the command’s emergency lines: 08066006475 and 07067374913.
The Benue State Police Command continues to urge citizens to cooperate with law enforcement agencies to maintain public safety and security.
