A 21-year-old company worker, David Ekes, has been arrested by operatives of the Edo State Police Command for allegedly staging his own kidnap.
The suspect, who worked as a dispatch officer with Dibecs Industry Limited, located at Km 162, Auchi–Okene Expressway, Okpella, was reported missing at the Okpella Police Division on January 30, 2026, by his uncle, Moses Ekes, who also works with the company.
A statement by the State Command’s spokesperson, ASP Eno Ikoedem, disclosed that the suspect staged his own abduction after allegedly spending company funds amounting to ₦1,308,000.00 on online gambling via a virtual sports betting platform.
The statement reads:
“On 30/01/2026 at about 1600hrs, one Moses Ekes ‘M’, of Dibecs Industry Limited, reported at the Okpella Police Division that his nephew, David Ekes ‘M’, aged 21 years, a dispatch officer with the company, dark in complexion, about 5ft tall, and fluent in Ijaw and English languages, had been missing since 27/01/2026 at about 2030hrs.
“According to the report, the said David Ekes left his quarters alone on a black, unregistered motorcycle from Factory 2 to Factory 3, contrary to company policy, and was not seen or heard from thereafter. The motorcycle was later discovered parked along the road leading to Factory 3 and subsequently recovered to the company’s main office.
