Delta State Police have arrested Nelson Eserada, a fourth-year student at the Delta State University (DELSU), for faking his own abduction.
Alongside his alleged accomplice, Jerry Lawrence, Eserada was apprehended by the police on June 10, following their investigation into the N50 million bitcoin ransom demand.
In a statement released on June 13, Delta State Police spokesperson Bright Edafe revealed that the unsuspecting father of the accused student, Nelson Eserada, had already paid an initial sum of N5 million into Jerry Lawrence’s bitcoin account.
According to the police, “Following complaints received from the father of one Nelson Eserada ‘M’ at Abraka Division that his son Nelson Eserada was kidnapped and that the kidn@ppers were demanding a ransom of Fifty million naira (#50,000,000) in bitcoin. The suspect also sent a video of the supposed victim ti£d and being tortured.
‘The DPO Abraka SP Fabian Ayameh swiftly moved into action, embarked on a technical intelligence-led investigation and on 10/06/2024 at about 2000hrs, one Jerry Lawrence ‘M’ of Jeddo Community Warri was arrested in connection with the crime.
“Preliminary investigation revealed that the suspect conspired with the said Nelson Eserada a 400 Level Student of Banking & Finance Department of the Delta State University Abraka and that the father had already paid the sum of Five Million and Two Hundred Thousand Naira ransom through a Bitcoin account belonging to the principal suspect Jerry Lawrence.
The suspects are in custody and investigation is ongoing.”
