Police operatives in Delta State have arrested a 400-level student of the Delta State University identified as Nelson Eserada for faking his own abduction.

The suspect, who was arrested alongside one Jerry Lawrence on June 10, was said to had demanded a ransom of N50 million in bitcoin.

The command’s spokesperson in a statement on June 13, said that the suspect’s father had already paid a sum of N5 million through a bitcoin account belonging to Lawrence.

According to the police, “Following complaints received from the father of one Nelson Eserada ‘M’ at Abraka Division that his son Nelson Eserada was kidapped and that the kidnappers were demanding a ransom of Fifty million naira in bitcoin. The suspect also sent a video of the supposed victim tied and being tortured.

The DPO Abraka SP Fabian Ayameh swiftly moved into action, embarked on a technical intelligence-led investigation and on 10/06/2024 at about 2000hrs, one Jerry Lawrence ‘M’ of Jeddo Community Warri was arrested in connection with the crime.