Student fakes own kidnapping, calls mother for N50m ransom

Police in Niger State have arrested Moses Amarks, an 18-year-old student at the College of Health in Kwamba, Suleja, for allegedly faking his own kidnapping to extort money from his parents. Amarks and his accomplices reportedly used a hidden number to call his mother, demanding a ransom of N50 million for his release. The spokesperson […]

Police in Niger State have arrested Moses Amarks, an 18-year-old student at the College of Health in Kwamba, Suleja, for allegedly faking his own kidnapping to extort money from his parents.

Amarks and his accomplices reportedly used a hidden number to call his mother, demanding a ransom of N50 million for his release.

The spokesperson for the Niger State Police Command, SP Wasiu Abiodun, said the suspect and his friends were hiding in Kaduna, waiting for the ransom, when they were apprehended.

According to Abiodun, “On August 4, 2025, a report was received at the Maje Division that a hidden call was made to a female victim, claiming her son, Moses Amarks, had been kidnapped and demanding a N50 million ransom.”

He said Amarks was tracked to the Zuba motor park in Abuja.

Abiodun said during questioning, the suspect confessed to conspiring with a friend, Emmanuel Moses (22), a former student at the same school, to plan the fake kidnapping to extort money from his mother.

He said Emmanuel contacted his brother, Jetro, in Kaduna, who provided them with a place to stay in Karji village, Sabon-Tasha, for six days.

He said Amarks told the police that he decided to resurface when the ransom was not forthcoming.

Abiodun said investigation is ongoing, adding that efforts to locate Jetro are in progress.