By Daniel Aondoaseer Zendesha 

The Benue State Police Command says it has arrested two women over an alleged plot to stage a fake kidnapping in an attempt to extort ransom from a family member.

According to the Command's spokesperson, DSP Orchia Peter Aondongu, the case was reported on 15 July 2026 after Miss Mary Torkuma, a resident of Akpehe in Makurdi, allegedly left her apartment on 12 July to visit a friend in the North Bank area of the state capital.

Police said Mary's mother, who lives in Lagos State, allegedly received a call the following day from an unknown number claiming her daughter had been kidnapped and demanding ransom.

The Police spokesperson said operatives of the Violence Crime Response Unit (VCRU) launched an intelligence-led investigation that traced the case to a hotel in Ankpa Quarters, Makurdi, where Mary was found alongside Miss Evergreen Samuel, who had reportedly travelled from Abia State.

According to the police, preliminary investigations indicate that the two women allegedly conspired to stage the kidnapping in a bid to deceive Mary's mother into paying ransom.

The suspects remain in police custody, while investigations continue. The Command said they will be charged to court upon the conclusion of investigations.

Reacting to the incident, Commissioner of Police, CP Cletus C.N. Nwadiogbu, warned against staging fake kidnapping incidents, saying such acts divert security resources from genuine emergencies and are punishable under the law.

The Benue State Police Command urged residents to promptly report suspicious activities to the nearest police station or through its emergency lines: 08066006475 and 07067374913.

Benue Info-pedia notes that these allegations are based on the official account of the Benue State Police Command. The suspects are presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty by a court of competent jurisdiction.

Nigeria has witnessed increasing cases of kidnapping for ransom in recent years, making reports of abduction highly sensitive and often prompting immediate security responses. Security agencies have repeatedly warned against false kidnapping reports, noting that they waste valuable operational resources that could otherwise be deployed to genuine emergencies.