Edo Police Uncover Elaborate Kidnapping Hoax Following Major Betting Loss
The Edo State Police Command has made a startling arrest, apprehending a 21-year-old dispatch officer for orchestrating his own kidnapping after squandering a substantial sum of money through online gambling. The suspect, identified as David Ekes, reportedly lost N1.3 million belonging to both his employer and a customer on a visual sporty betting platform before devising an elaborate scheme to conceal his actions.
Details of the Deception and Investigation
According to the Police Public Relations Officer, ASP Eno Ikoedem, who revealed the details in an official statement, the case began when Ekes was reported missing by his family on January 27, 2026. His motorcycle was subsequently discovered abandoned along a roadside, heightening concerns about his disappearance. The initial report filed at the Okpella Police Division indicated that Ekes, an employee of Dibecs Industry Limited located at Km 162 on the Auchi–Okene Expressway in Okpella, had vanished under suspicious circumstances.
Police investigation revealed a calculated sequence of events:
- Between January 25 and 26, 2026, Ekes lost N1,308,000 through online gambling
- He immediately traveled to Abuja following the financial loss
- In Abuja, he sold his Tecno Camon mobile phone and checked into a hotel
- He deliberately staged his own kidnapping to create an alibi for the missing funds
The Suspect's False Narrative and Eventual Confession
In a dramatic turn of events, Ekes returned on his own on January 31, 2026, appearing weak and claiming to have been kidnapped. He provided police with a detailed but fabricated account, alleging that three unidentified men had abducted him, forced him to trek barefoot through the forest for over three days, confiscated his mobile phone, and withdrew funds from his First Bank account.
However, discreet police investigation uncovered the truth behind the elaborate deception. The suspect eventually confessed to staging the entire kidnapping scenario to cover up his substantial gambling losses. Police operatives had initially conducted thorough searches of the surrounding bush area and documented all relevant findings before the suspect's unexpected return exposed inconsistencies in his story.
Official Response and Public Warning
The Commissioner of Police for Edo State Command, CP Monday Agbonika, issued a stern warning against false distress reports and criminal deception. He emphasized that such actions not only undermine public confidence in security agencies but also waste critical resources that could be deployed for genuine emergencies.
The police commissioner further addressed the gambling aspect of the case:
- Youths involved in gambling activities were advised to exercise responsibility
- Addiction to gambling was identified as a potential pathway to desperation and criminal behavior
- The suspect will be arraigned in court as a deterrent to others contemplating similar schemes
The case highlights the dangerous consequences of gambling addiction and the extreme measures some individuals may take to conceal financial misconduct. The Edo State Police Command has demonstrated thorough investigative capabilities in unraveling this complex deception.
