After reportedly staging his own kidnapping, Akpooh Edet, a local security guard at Rubber Estate in Ose River, Ovia South West local government area of Edo state, was taken into custody. Edet, 35, was apprehended by Amotekun Corps personnel while attempting to extort the ransom of N50 million from his company.
After the Department of State Services (DSS) Edo Command got in touch with the Ondo Amotekun Corps, the suspect was successfully arrested at one of his hiding places in Igbotako, Okitipupa Local Government Area, Ondo State. The suspect was one of 22 that were paraded at the Ondo Amotekun Corps headquarters in Akure on Tuesday.
Adetunji Adeleye, Commander of Ondo Amotekun, who confirmed the arrest of the suspect, said Edet was nabbed at the residence of one Libon James, alleging that Mr Libon might not be aware that Edet was only faking his own kidnapping.
He said the two suspects would be handed over to the DSS for further investigation.
Senior Security Manager of the firm, Oluwole Adesonlu, said Edet had worked for the firm for about 10 years.
He explained that Edet and his gang first demanded N50m and later reduced it to N35m before they agreed to collect N15m.
He said, “We discovered that one of my guards was missing. We began the search for him and contacted the DSS.”
He stated that “it was during the investigation that I contacted Amotekun in Igbotako and Edet was tracked to where he was hiding.”
He added that two accomplices were arrested in Edo State “and we discovered that it was a self-kidnap to extort money from the company.”
