400L DELSU Student In Police Net For Faking Kidnap, Collecting N5.2M Ransom From Father

A 400-level student of Banking and Finance Department, Delta State University (DELSU), Abraka, Nelson Eserada, has been arrested by the Delta State Police Command for staging his own abduction and demanding a ransom of N50 million in bitcoin.

According to the police spokesperson, Bright Edafe, Eserada was apprehended on Monday, June 10, alongside an accomplice, Jerry Lawrence.

Report alleged that Nelson Eserada collaborated with his friend, Jerry Lawrence of Jeddo Community Warri, Delta State to abduct him after which they sent a video to Nelson Eserada’s father showing him tied up and being tortured. They demanded a ransom of N50 million from Nelson Eserada’s father to be paid in a bitcoin account belonging to Jerry Lawrence.

Eserada’s father had already paid a ransom of N5.2 million through a bitcoin account linked to Lawrence.

The incident came to light after Eserada’s father reported the alleged kidnapping to the police.

The Divisional Police Officer (DPO) at Abraka, SP Fabian Ayameh, initiated a technical intelligence-led investigation that led to the arrest of Lawrence on June 10.

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Preliminary investigations revealed that Eserada had conspired with Lawrence to stage the abduction.

The police have confirmed that Eserada’s father had paid a total of N5.2 million in ransom through Lawrence’s bitcoin account.

Both suspects are currently in police custody, and further investigations are underway.

Reacting to the incident, Delta State Commissioner of Police, CP Abaniwonda urged parents to train and take care of their children, noting that children not raised properly may grow up and become problems to their parents.

He also urged youths to stay away from the get-rich-quick syndrome, saying that crime does not pay.