A pastor of the Methodist Church, in Ado Ekiti, Adewuyi Adegoke, has been arrested by the police for allegedly faking his own kidnap.
He was arrested by a crack team of detectives.
The pastor was reported missing on the Esa Oke-Aramoko road while travelling to Ado Ekiti on Sunday.
His disappearance trended on social media with claims that he had been abducted by herdsmen while travelling.
A source within the Ado Ekiti Police Command, disclosed to journalists that a few days after his purported kidnap, his ‘abductors’ contacted the Methodist church to demand for a ransom of N3 million threatening to kill the cleric if the ransom was not paid by Thursday, June 13.
The source explained that Adegoke was tracked through the mobile phone that he used in his communications with his family.
“The police have intercepted and arrested the holder of the phone with GSM no 09078589516 being used to demand for a ransom of N3 million from the family and church members of the kidnapped Methodist Reverend at First Bank area, Okeyinmi, Ado-Ekiti where he went to pick the ransom.
“Incidentally, the arrested suspect is the same Rev. Adewuyi Adegoke Peter. In interrogation, he confessed to have planned the kidnap of himself and demanded the N3 million ransom.
“He also stated that he lodged at an hotel within the metro and mentioned one Adewole Oluwadare Sunday, 25 years old, as his accomplice who helped in making the ransom demand calls.
“The two suspects have confessed to the crime and are detained at the Police state headquarters, Ado-Ekiti” the source said.
The arrest and detention of the suspects has also been confirmed by the Ekiti State Commissioner of Police, Mr. Amba Asuquo.