Three 17-year-olds were arrested in Meru County after staging a fake kidnapping to extort Sh6 million from one of their families.
According to police investigations, the scheme began in Kainginyo, Thimbiri, when two male suspects and a female accomplice, who was the alleged victim, conspired to falsely report her abduction.
Detectives from the Directorate of Criminal Investigations (DCI) revealed that the trio’s plan involved faking a kidnapping and demanding ransom from her parents, threatening that their daughter would “disappear for good” if they did not pay the large sum.
On September 24, Meru Police Station received a report from the family, who believed their daughter had been kidnapped.
In a state of panic, the family attempted to negotiate with the supposed kidnappers, but their efforts were in vain.
Officers at the station quickly launched a manhunt, assuring the distressed family that they were doing everything possible to ensure their daughter’s safe return.
As the investigation progressed, detectives from Imenti North uncovered the truth: the young woman had conspired with her two male accomplices to stage her own kidnapping in a misguided attempt to extort money from her family.
Through forensic investigation, authorities were able to trace the teenagers to a hideout in Kainginyo, where they were arrested on September 30.
During the raid, detectives found 20 rolls of marijuana in their possession.
While the family expressed relief that their daughter was unharmed, the three teenagers were detained at Igoji Police Station for further questioning.
Police characterized the incident as a classic case of a misguided get-rich-quick mentality.
Counselors have been brought in to speak with the teenagers as part of efforts to address the underlying issues.
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