Bride On The Run: Woman Fakes Own Kidnap To Dodge ₦3.6m Wedding Loan Repayment

The Delta State Police Command has recorded another operational milestone in its ongoing fight against crime and criminality with the arrest of a woman who allegedly faked her own kidnapping in a bid to avoid repaying a loan.

The operation also led to the arrest of her accomplices.

In a statement issued on Monday, the Command’s spokesperson, SP Bright Edafe, revealed that on 21st July 2025 at about 8:30 p.m., the police received a report of a kidnapping involving a female victim allegedly abducted by armed men in the Bonsaac area of Asaba.

According to him, “Responding swiftly to the report, the Commissioner of Police, CP Olufemi Abaniwonda, directed the Commander of the Special Anti-Kidnapping and Cyber Crime Squad (SAKCCS), CSP Godwin Osadolor, to ensure the immediate and safe rescue of the victim.

“Following the directive, operatives launched a coordinated, intelligence-driven operation. On 22nd July 2025 at about 9:00 a.m., two suspects — Alfred Elisha and Ugochukwu Adim — were arrested at Koka Roundabout and off DLA Road in Asaba, respectively.

“During interrogation, one of the suspects, Alfred Elisha, confessed that the alleged kidnapping was staged and that the supposed victim had conspired with him to extort money from her family.

“His confession led to the arrest of Merit Eleh, a 29-year-old woman, who admitted to masterminding the fake abduction.

She revealed that she had obtained a loan of ₦3.6 million from her brother, which she used to fund her bridal shower and hotel expenses for her wedding held in March 2025.

“To avoid repaying the debt, she conspired with her accomplices to stage her own kidnapping and demanded a ransom.

According to her statement, ₦3 million was paid as ransom, from which she gave her accomplices ₦500,000 and kept ₦2.5 million for herself.

“All suspects involved in the criminal conspiracy have been taken into custody as investigations continue.”