BREAKING: Pastor, Wife Nabbed for Allegedly Faking Kidnap to Extort N10m from Relatives Abroad

The Ondo State Police Command has arrested Pastor Sanmori Joshua, 62, and his wife, Mrs. Sanmori Taiwo, 42, for allegedly staging a fake kidnapping to extort N10 million from their relatives abroad.

The couple reportedly hatched the plot by making it appear as though Mrs. Sanmori had been abducted, with the aim of collecting ransom money.

According to the police, on August 23, Mrs. Sanmori went into hiding in a room at their residence on Road 5, PowerLine, Ondo City, while her husband raised alarm and reached out to relatives for financial support.

“Suspicious of their claims, one of the relatives, Mr. Fasegha O. Joseph, lodged a written petition with the Commissioner of Police, CP Adebowale Lawal, who directed the Command’s Special Anti-Kidnapping Squad (SAKS) to investigate,” Ondo State Police Public Relations Officer, DSP Olushola Ayanlade, said in a statement.

Operatives of SAKS, working with Enu-owa Division in Ondo City, stormed the couple’s residence, where Mrs. Sanmori was discovered.

“She falsely claimed she had just been released after a ransom of N5 million was allegedly paid,” Ayanlade added.

However, under interrogation, Mrs. Sanmori confessed to staging the abduction in collaboration with her husband.

“Upon further questioning, Mrs. Taiwo admitted the kidnapping was self-orchestrated to extort money from relatives abroad under the pretense of securing her release. She revealed that her motive was to settle debts and meet personal needs,” the police spokesman explained.

The police confirmed that the couple remains in custody and will face prosecution upon completion of investigations.

“We are committed to exposing and prosecuting all forms of criminality, whether genuine or staged, to preserve peace, protect lives, and safeguard the integrity of communities across the state,” Ayanlade assured.