15:T711,

It was a tale of a trick gone awry when a coffin dealer in Enugu, South-East Nigeria, failed in his bid to swindle his brothers of N1.2 million after going into hiding and declaring himself kidnapped.

Operatives of the Anti-Kidnapping Unit of the Enugu State Command Police say Samuel Ani of Ugwuaji in Enugu South council area, hide himself in a bush behind his shop at the Gariki axis of Awkunananaw for six days, making frantic phone calls to his two younger brothers that he had been abducted and that the sum of N2 million was required to get him free.

Police said that when Ani gave the impresion that his alleged kidnappers were about to kill him due to the delay in paying the ransom, some money was paid into an account number purportedly provided by his alleged kidnappers.

The bubble, however, burst when his girlfriend, Oluchi Faith Ogbu, went to cash N100,000 paid into the account in one of the new generation banks, only to fall into the trap of security operatives.

Upon interrogation, Oluchi, according to Enugu State Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO), Ebere Amaraizu, admitted that the account belonged to her, but that she was acting on behalf of Samuel Ani, whom she described as her fiancée.

The PPRO said that upon his arrest, Ani confessed that he was not kidnapped but faked his abduction “so that his wealthy younger brothers can pay ransom which he will use to sort out his business dealings.”

Amaraizu said a remorseful Ani disclosed that he faked his kidnap because his wealthy brothers had refused to give him monetary assistance. He said the suspects would be charged to court “immediately investigation is concluded.”

•Photo shows Samuel and his girlfriend, Oluchi.

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