Ondo Police uncover self-kidnapping plot in Ondo City involving a couple who staged an abduction to extort ₦10m from relatives. Both suspects confess as police vow tougher security operations
Ondo Police Expose Shocking Case of Self-Kidnapping by Couple in Ondo Town
The Ondo State Police Command has uncovered a case of self-kidnapping involving a couple in Ondo City, exposing a plot designed to extort money from relatives abroad
Police identified the suspects as Mrs. Sanmori Taiwo, 42, and her husband, Pastor Sanmori Olubumi Joshua, 62, both residents of Road 5, Power Line, Ondo City. According to the command, Mrs. Taiwo deliberately secluded herself in a room within their residence on August 23, 2025, while her husband placed calls to relatives, claiming she had been kidnapped by gunmen demanding a ransom of ₦10 million.
The scheme began to unravel when a suspicious relative, Mr. Fasegha O. Joseph, petitioned the Commissioner of Police, CP Adebowale Lawal. Acting on the petition, the Special Anti-Kidnapping Squad (SAKS), in collaboration with Enu-Owa Division in Ondo City, stormed the couple’s residence. There, Mrs. Taiwo was found and initially claimed she had just been released by kidnappers after a ransom of ₦5 million was allegedly paid.
Upon interrogation, however, she confessed that the abduction had been staged in collaboration with her husband. According to the police, Mrs. Taiwo admitted the plan was aimed at extorting relatives abroad to settle debts and cover personal expenses. Both suspects are now under investigation, and legal proceedings are expected to follow.
“This case once again demonstrates the unwavering commitment of the Ondo State Police Command to unravel all forms of criminality, whether real or staged, in order to preserve peace and safeguard communities,” the command said in a statement signed by DSP Ayanlade Olayinka Olushola, the Police Public Relations Officer.
The statement credited the success of the operation to the proactive leadership of CP Adebowale Lawal and the policing vision of the Inspector General of Police, IGP Kayode Adeolu Egbetokun, PhD, NPM. “The IGP’s emphasis on intelligence-led operations and community engagement has provided the framework upon which the Ondo State Command continues to build its crime-fighting strategies,” the command noted.
The police also acknowledged the role of local forest hunters and the cooperation of residents, urging the public to remain vigilant and law-abiding. “We appreciate the good people of Ondo State who continue to volunteer credible information that has guided police operations. All information shared will be treated with utmost confidentiality,” the statement added.
CP Lawal assured residents that the command would sustain its efforts until Ondo State is free of criminal elements. Read More
