The Ondo State Police Command has arrested a 42-year-old woman, Mrs. Sanmori Taiwo, and her 62-year-old husband, Pastor Sanmori Joshua, for allegedly staging her own abduction in a bid to extort N10 million from relatives abroad.
Police spokesperson, DSP Olushola Ayanlade, confirmed the arrest in a statement on Wednesday, noting that the incident occurred on August 23 at the couple’s residence on Road 5, PowerLine, Ondo City.
According to Ayanlade, Taiwo deliberately hid herself in a room while her husband contacted family members, claiming she had been kidnapped by armed men. Suspicious of the claims, one relative, Mr. Fasegha O. Joseph, filed a petition to the Commissioner of Police, CP Adebowale Lawal, who immediately directed the Special Anti-Kidnapping Squad (SAKS) to investigate.
“Operatives, in collaboration with Enu-owa Division in Ondo City, stormed the couple’s residence where the woman was found,” Ayanlade said. “She falsely claimed to have just been released by kidnappers after a ransom of N5 million had allegedly been paid.”
During interrogation, Taiwo reportedly confessed that the abduction was staged to deceive her relatives and raise money. “She admitted the plan was designed to extort funds from family members abroad under the pretense of securing her release. Her motive was to settle debts and meet personal needs,” the police spokesperson added.
The suspects are currently in custody and, according to police, will be charged after the conclusion of investigations.
Ayanlade reiterated the command’s commitment to tackling all forms of crime in the state. “We will diligently unravel all forms of criminality, whether real or staged, to preserve peace, protect lives, and safeguard the integrity of communities within Ondo State,” he said.
