A Delta State-based man, Michael James, has narrated why he allegedly staged a self-kidnapping scheme to extort N25m from his family.
James, in an interrogation video shared by the Delta State Police Public Relations Officer, Bright Edafe, on Sunday, said he resorted to the act because he owed his brother and sister money, which he had already spent and had no means of repaying.
He explained that on July 1, he was asked to dispose of refuse, but instead of returning home, he abandoned his wheelbarrow and hid in a nearby bush.
“My name is Michael James. I am from Edo State, but I live in Delta State. I kidnapped myself. The reason I kidnapped myself was that I owed my sister and my brother, and I had already spent the money. I had no way of paying it back.
“On the 1st of this month, they asked me to go and throw away the trash. After throwing away the trash, I parked my wheelbarrow and entered the bush.
“After some time, my mum started calling me, but I did not answer. Later, I called my mum and told her that I had been kidnapped and that the kidnappers were demanding N25m. Then I ended the call.”
The suspect added that he later called his mother again, claiming that his abductors were beating him and he had transferred N700,000 to them.
