The Anambra State Police Command has arrested a serving soldier for allegedly faking his own kidnap in an attempt to extort ₦20 million from his family.
The suspect, identified as 38-year-old Samuel Ekezie, a personnel of the 302 Artillery Regiment of the Nigerian Army, Onitsha, was apprehended on September 15, 2025, and taken into custody.
In a statement, the command’s spokesperson, SP Ikenga Tochukwu, said Ekezie staged the abduction to obtain money from his relatives.
Preliminary investigations revealed that on August 15, 2025, the suspect sent a text message to his family, claiming he had been kidnapped and demanding ₦20 million as ransom for his release.
SP Tochukwu added that operatives, relying on technology-driven intelligence, tracked and arrested Ekezie at his hideout in Rivers State.
He assured the public that the police would carry out a thorough investigation and ensure justice is served.
