The Delta State Police Command has arrested a 22-year-old man, Michael James, for allegedly staging his own kidnap in a bid to extort money from his family. The command also arrested two other suspects over the circulation of a false social media report and rescued a two-week-old baby from suspected child traffickers.
The State Commissioner of Police, CP Yemi Oyeniyi, disclosed the developments during a press briefing in Asaba, describing the incidents as evidence of the command’s determination to tackle crime, misinformation and other emerging security threats.
According to the police commissioner, the command received a distress report on July 1, 2026, that Michael James, who lives along Idumuesah/Owa-Alero Road, had left home around 7:30 a.m. to dispose of refuse but never returned.
The report further claimed that suspected kidnappers had contacted his relatives and demanded a ransom of ₦25 million for his release.
Oyeniyi said operatives immediately launched an intelligence-driven operation, deploying officers to the area and surrounding bushes after receiving the report.
He explained that as security operatives closed in on the location, the suspect suddenly emerged from the bush and claimed he had escaped from his abductors.
However, during interrogation, Michael James reportedly admitted that he orchestrated the kidnap himself.
According to the Delta police commissioner, the suspect confessed that he had spent money given to him by his sister and devised the fake kidnap to raise funds to replace it.
He said the suspect remains in police custody while investigations continue.
Viral Video Addressed
The commissioner also addressed a viral social media claim linking police officers to a fatal road crash that occurred on June 27, 2026, along the Ughelli–Patani Expressway near Setraco Company, Ughelli.
He described the report as false and misleading, saying it wrongly alleged that officers arrested a suspect driving an unregistered vehicle, seized the vehicle and later caused the accident that claimed a woman’s life.
Following a detailed investigation, the command established that the accident involved a newly purchased, unregistered Mercedes-Benz GLK SUV driven by a civilian identified as Agofure Gift, 27, who rammed into a commercial tricycle.
The crash claimed the life of 51-year-old Catherine Umokoro, while four other persons sustained varying degrees of injuries.
Oyeniyi stressed that no police officer or police vehicle was involved in the accident at any point.
He said intelligence gathering and digital forensic investigations later led to the arrest of Egoh Best Akpobome, 35, and Omonigho Jitobor, 42, for allegedly originating and circulating the false report online.
According to him, both suspects are in custody and will be charged to court after investigations are concluded.
Two week old baby rescued
In another development, the commissioner disclosed that officers attached to the Ozoro Division rescued a two-week-old baby boy following a report of suspected child trafficking.
He said the baby’s mother reported that after giving birth on June 15, 2026, a woman identified only as “MAMA,” with whom she lived and worked, told her the child would be taken to an orphanage.
The woman later became suspicious after repeated requests to see her baby were denied, prompting her to report the matter to the police.
Police investigations led to the arrest of Evelyn Otubo and Esther Joseph, who were allegedly found with the baby while waiting for an intending buyer.
The child was rescued unharmed and safely reunited with his mother.
Oyeniyi said the cases demonstrate the command’s resolve to combat not only conventional crimes but also child trafficking, misinformation, disinformation and fake news.
He added that the arrest and prosecution of those involved would serve as a deterrent to others.
The commissioner reassured residents that the Delta State Police Command remains committed to intelligence-led policing, thorough investigations and ensuring that anyone found breaking the law is brought to justice.
He also advised parents, especially nursing mothers, to remain vigilant and protect their children from traffickers, while urging families to pay closer attention to relatives who might resort to staging kidnappings for financial gain.
Oyeniyi thanked residents for their continued support and appealed for timely, credible information that would assist the police in maintaining peace, public safety and security across Delta State.
