A 16-year-old secondary school student in Ebonyi State has been taken into police custody after allegedly staging her own abduction and requesting a ransom of ₦2 million from her family.
The girl, who is currently in Senior Secondary School 2 (SS2) at a private school situated along Watchman Street in Abakaliki, reportedly conspired with a family friend to execute the fake kidnap plan. She hails from Izzi Local Government Area and was expected to return to school for the third term before her disappearance.
According to the Ebonyi State Police Public Relations Officer, SP Joshua Ukandu, the student told authorities she had gone out to buy second-hand clothes (popularly known as Okirika) when she suddenly lost consciousness after being tapped from behind. She claimed to have regained awareness the following day at Ishieke Junction in Ebonyi Local Government Area.
Instead of going home, the teenager reportedly visited the residence of a family friend who was unaware of her situation. Using the man’s phone, she contacted her brother, falsely claiming she had been kidnapped and demanded ₦2 million for her release. When her brother requested to speak with her supposed abductors and asked for their location, she refused and blocked his number.
She later unblocked him and sent a bank account number—belonging to the family friend—to which the ransom was to be paid.
The police successfully tracked the phone used to send the messages and conducted a raid on the location. Several individuals, including the girl, were apprehended in connection with the incident.
SP Ukandu confirmed that investigations are ongoing and that the girl has been reunited with her family. However, due to her age, the matter is being handled with caution, in line with child protection laws.
The incident has triggered widespread concern among parents and educators, highlighting the growing need for counseling, digital safety education, and value reorientation among teenagers.
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