A final-year student of Ekiti State University (EKSU), Helen Kayode, has been arrested by the Ekiti State Police Command for allegedly faking her own kidnap just to spend time with her boyfriend.
According to the police, Helen sparked panic on May 1 after sending a distress message to her sister, claiming she had mistakenly boarded the wrong bus and had been kidnapped. The message quickly spread across social media, causing fear and anxiety among residents of Iworoko-Ekiti and Ado-Ekiti.
The spokesperson for the Ekiti State Police Command, SP Sunday Abutu, said the false alarm disrupted the peace in the state and led to unnecessary public tension. He revealed that Helen told her family she was being held in an uncompleted building surrounded by bushes.
However, investigations showed that she was never kidnapped. Instead, she had stayed back in Ado-Ekiti to celebrate her birthday with her boyfriend, who had promised her a surprise package. She later travelled to Lagos. During police questioning, she admitted to sending the fake message because her parents wanted her to return to Lagos, which she did not want.
Reacting to the incident, Ekiti State Commissioner of Police, Joseph Eribo, condemned Helen’s actions and warned that spreading false information would not be taken lightly. He confirmed that she would be charged to court after investigations and reassured the public of the command’s continued efforts to maintain peace and protect lives and property across the state.
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