Helen Kayode, a final-year student of Ekiti State University (EKSU), has been arrested by the Ekiti State Police Command for allegedly faking her own kidnap in a bid to spend time with her boyfriend in Ado-Ekiti.
According to the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN), the incident caused widespread panic in Iworoko-Ekiti and Ado-Ekiti after Helen sent a distress message to her sister on May 1, claiming she had boarded the wrong bus and had been abducted.
Confirming the development, the Command’s Public Relations Officer, SP Sunday Abutu, said the false alarm went viral on social media and disrupted the peaceful atmosphere of the state.
“The suspect claimed she was held hostage in an uncompleted building surrounded by bushes.The message caused public tension and unnecessary fear.”, SP Abutu stated.
Investigations, however, revealed that she was not kidnapped. Instead, she spent the night with her boyfriend before travelling to Lagos. During interrogation, Helen reportedly confessed that she concocted the story to enable her to remain in Ado-Ekiti for her birthday celebration.
“She said her parents wanted her to return to Lagos, but she preferred to stay and enjoy a ‘surprise package’ promised by her boyfriend,” Abutu added.
Commissioner of Police, Joseph Eribo, condemned the act and warned against spreading false information, stressing that it could undermine public trust and security. He confirmed that the suspect will be charged in court upon conclusion of investigations.
