By Femi Osinusi
The Nigeria Police Force has rescued a 38-year-old Ivorian citizen, Kacou Alleby, in Ogun State after what was initially reported as a kidnapping, but later discovered to be a staged abduction.
According to police authorities, the Intelligence Response Team (IRT) acted on a distress alert received from INTERPOL’s National Central Bureau in Abuja on behalf of law enforcement in Abidjan, Côte d’Ivoire. Alleby was reported missing on September 12, 2025, with claims that he had been kidnapped and held hostage.
Inspector-General of Police, Kayode Egbetokun, directed the IRT to track down the suspects. Operatives traced the case to Matogun, Ogun State, where they arrested 28-year-old Angela Arisa, also an Ivorian national. Arisa later led officers to a hideout in Olambe, Ogun State, where Alleby was found unharmed.
However, investigations revealed that the alleged victim and Arisa had conspired to fake the abduction in a bid to extort money from Alleby’s family in Côte d’Ivoire. The pair had allegedly produced torture videos and audio recordings demanding ransom to convince relatives abroad of the false kidnapping.
Police say efforts are ongoing to track down additional accomplices believed to have assisted in producing the staged materials.
Force Public Relations Officer, CSP Benjamin Hundeyin, said the IGP has condemned the act, warning that self-kidnap constitutes a serious crime under Nigerian law. He stressed that such actions undermine national security and damage the country’s international image.
“The Nigeria Police will ensure that all those involved face the full weight of the law,” the statement read.
