Businessman fakes own kidnap, demands N10m from his family

The Bauchi State police have arrested one Abdullahi Mohammed, a Nasarawa-based businessman, for allegedly planning his own kidnap.

Abubakar Kamal, public relations officer of the Bauchi police command, said one Tijjani Mohammed had on May 12, 2019, reported to the police that Mohammed, his brother, left home for business in Kano, but did not return when he ought to.

He said Tijjani told the police that Abdullahi later called and informed him that he was kidnapped near Gusau in Zamfara state while on the business trip.

Kamal said Abdullahi told Tijjani that the abductors demanded a ransom of N10 million and directed the family to deliver the ransom before he would be released.

He emphasised that Tijjani said the ransom was later reduced to N1 million and the abductors directed that the money be brought to Bauchi.

Operatives attached to anti-kidnapping squad later arrested one Haruna Saidu, who had come to collect the ransom.

Further investigation led to the discovery of the alleged abductor (Saidu), and victim (Abdullahi) at the residence of Saidu.

It was later revealed that Abdullahi Mohammed, after his businesses collapsed, conspired with his friend, Haruna, and staged a false kidnapping in order to force his family to pay ransom.