The Edo State Police Command has arrested a company dispatch officer who allegedly staged his own kidnapping in an attempt to conceal the loss of over ₦1.3 million belonging to his employer and a customer, police authorities have confirmed.
The suspect, identified as David Ekes, 21, is a dispatch rider with Dibecs Industry Limited, based in Okpella, Etsako East Local Government Area of Edo State. According to police findings, Ekes orchestrated the fake abduction after losing company funds through online gambling.
In a statement issued on Monday, 9 February 2026, the Police Public Relations Officer, CSP Eno Ikoedem, said the case was initially reported as a missing person incident by the suspect’s uncle, Moses Ekes, also of Dibecs Industry Limited.
According to the report filed at the Okpella Police Division on 30 January 2026, David Ekes was said to have gone missing on 27 January at about 8:30 p.m. He reportedly left his residence riding a black, unregistered motorcycle from Factory 2 to Factory 3, an action that violated company movement protocols. He was not seen or heard from after leaving.
Police said the motorcycle was later discovered abandoned along the road leading to Factory 3 and was recovered and taken to the company’s main office, raising concerns about his safety and triggering an immediate investigation.
Following the report, officers from the Okpella Division visited the area, conducted a detailed search of nearby bushes, documented physical evidence, and launched a full investigation to determine the circumstances surrounding the disappearance.
However, in a dramatic twist, the missing man returned on his own on the morning of 31 January 2026 at about 8:00 a.m. Police said he appeared weak and disoriented and was taken to a hospital in Okpella for medical attention. Officers later visited the hospital and monitored his condition.
Upon regaining stability, Ekes gave an initial statement to the police, alleging that he had been kidnapped by three unknown men. He claimed he was forced to trek barefoot through the forest for more than three days, during which his mobile phone was seized and money withdrawn from his First Bank account.
Further investigation by police operatives, however, uncovered inconsistencies in his account. According to CSP Ikoedem, discreet inquiries and financial analysis revealed that between 25 and 26 January 2026, Ekes lost a total of ₦1,308,000 through online gambling on a virtual sports betting platform. The money reportedly belonged to his company and a customer.
Police said that after losing the funds, the suspect travelled to Abuja, sold his mobile phone, checked into a hotel, and deliberately staged the kidnapping story to avoid accountability and explain his absence and the missing money.
Confronted with the evidence, the suspect reportedly confessed to the crime during interrogation. Police confirmed that he is currently in custody and will be charged to court upon the conclusion of investigations.
The Edo State Commissioner of Police, Monday Agbonika, condemned the act, warning that false reports of kidnapping and other distress crimes divert security resources and undermine public trust.
“Such acts of deception waste valuable time and manpower that could have been used to respond to real emergencies,” the commissioner said.
He also cautioned young people against irresponsible gambling, noting that addiction often leads to poor judgment, financial ruin, and criminal behaviour.
Police urged members of the public to report crimes truthfully and advised employers to strengthen internal financial controls, while reiterating the command’s commitment to investigating criminal deception and related offences across the state.
Source: Africa Publicity
