A startling case of family betrayal has emerged in Delta State, where a 31-year-old man, Chukwemeka Destiny, has been arrested for allegedly plotting to kidnap his own aunt, the woman who raised him for a decade.
The suspect was paraded by the Delta State Police Command spokesperson, Bright Edafe, who revealed that Destiny paid a total of N900,000 to individuals he believed were kidnappers to abduct his aunt.
According to police, Destiny lived with the woman from age five to 15 before cutting ties with the family.
Years later, he allegedly hatched the disturbing plan, making an initial payment of N200,000 followed by N700,000 to execute the abduction.
Edafe described the case as part of a troubling trend of violence against benefactors.
“We’ve had cases where workers killed their employer. We’ve had cases where security men killed their bosses just because they want to cut away their jewelry,” he said.
Explaining the suspect’s actions, the police spokesman added, “All of a sudden something just came up to his mind that let me kidnap my auntie who trained me, who saw me through school, and that was what he did.”
However, the plot took an unexpected turn. The individuals Destiny approached were not kidnappers. Instead, they set him up and handed him over to the police, effectively saving the intended victim.
“Unknown to him that the people he contacted were not kidnappers. They rather used him as bait, got him and handed him over to the police thereby saving the life of his auntie,” Bright said.
During interrogation, Destiny admitted his involvement but struggled to explain his motive.
“Sincerely speaking to you, I am guilty of what really happened. I don’t know what came over me. I can’t tell,” he said.
Pressed further, he blamed supernatural influence, saying, “Yes sir. It is devil’s work.”
The suspect, a married father of two who claims to run a haulage and building materials business, confirmed the payments, stating, “I made a deposit of 200,000 at first. Then the next day made a deposit of 700,000 making it 900,000.”
Reacting to the incident, the aunt—identified as the elder sister’s son—expressed deep shock and heartbreak.
“I was shocked. Crying,” she said. trying to hold back tear.
She revealed that Destiny had long distanced himself from the family after leaving home as a teenager.
“He just disappeared. Just hanging around the street. But he will not come to our house,” she said.
When asked whether she would show mercy, her response was firm.
“Anything they know to do such people, you should do it to him,” she said.
Backing her stance, Edafe urged Nigerians to allow justice to take its course.
“People like this, see, without cases where they carry their loved ones, say they just want to kidnap for money, and they end up killing the person. So you should allow the law to take its course,” he said.
The suspect is currently in custody with the Raiders squad of the Delta State Police Command as investigations continue.
