Delta Police arrest woman for faking her own kidnap after spending N3.6m on bridal shower

The Delta State Police Command has arrested a 27-year-old woman, Merit Alice, for allegedly faking her own abduction after misappropriating ₦3.6 million entrusted to her for a business transaction.

According to the State Police Public Relations Officer, SP Bright Edafe, the money was given to Alice by her brother for the purchase of a tricycle (popularly known as keke). However, rather than executing the deal, she reportedly squandered the funds on a lavish bridal shower and luxurious hotel stays for herself and her friends.

As her brother began demanding a refund, Alice allegedly conspired with two accomplices to stage her own kidnap in a desperate attempt to dodge responsibility. The staged abduction was intended to create the impression that the money had been stolen by her supposed captors.

The incident reportedly occurred on July 20, when Alice told her husband she was stepping out. Hours later, the family received disturbing news that she had been kidnapped.

In a video shared by SP Edafe on X (formerly Twitter), the police confirmed the arrest of Alice and her collaborators, adding that investigations are ongoing.

The kidnappers demanded a ransom of N3 million, which was subsequently paid by Alice’s husband and family.

The police, through the Special Anti-Kidnapping and Cybercrime Squad, commenced an investigation and eventually arrested one of the suspects, who confessed and revealed the plot.

Alice later admitted to the crime, stating that she used the N3.6 million to fund her bridal shower and lodge her friends during her wedding in March.

She also confessed to withdrawing N2.5 million from a POS agent and giving N500,000 to her accomplices.

She identified one of the accomplices, Peter, as a security guard at her former workplace. Alice cited pressure from her brother to return the money as the reason for orchestrating the fake kidnapping.

SP Edafe commended the officers involved in the investigation and assured that the command would continue to clamp down on criminal activities in the state.