Police rescue kidnap victim, arrest suspect in online job scam syndicate

Crime Diary

ENUGU, Nigeria (NPA) — Operatives of the Enugu State Police Command have rescued a kidnapped victim and arrested a suspect linked to a criminal syndicate that lures victims through fake online job offers.

In a statement issued on April 27, 2026, by SP Daniel Ndukwe, Police Public Relations Officer, the Command confirmed that officers attached to the Anti‑Kidnapping Sub‑Unit of the Violent Crime Response Unit (VCRU), alongside the Nigeria Police Force and two others, successfully rescued a male victim on April 11. The victim had been abducted after responding to a fraudulent job advert and was forced to pay a ransom of ₦500,000.

During the operation, police arrested Aniagboso Ugochukwu (27), identified as a member of the syndicate. Preliminary investigations revealed that the same group had earlier kidnapped another victim on April 1, extorting ₦100,000 before releasing him.

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Investigators found that the syndicate uses social media platforms to advertise fictitious job vacancies. Victims are directed to meet at Eke Obinagu, Emene, Enugu, then transported to a secluded location in Akpuoga Nike, where they are held captive and threatened with crude weapons, including iron objects and wooden planks, while ransom is demanded from their families.

The suspect confessed to the crime and remains in custody, assisting police efforts to apprehend fleeing accomplices, recover ransom payments, and dismantle the network.

Commissioner of Police, CP Mamman Bitrus Giwa, urged the public to exercise caution when engaging with online job offers and verify their authenticity before taking further steps. He encouraged citizens to report suspicious activities to the nearest police station or through the Command’s emergency lines.