By Huldah Shado
The Force Criminal Investigation Department (F-CID), has arrested a Benue-born man, Andrew Paul Audu, for allegedly faking his own kidnapping in Abuja.
Audu was declared missing on March 8, 2025, after claiming he had been abducted by political rivals.
His disappearance triggered panic and a large-scale search that wasted significant security resources.
However, police operatives later tracked him to Abacha Road, Abuja, where he was found relaxing with friends.
Investigations revealed he created a false abduction story to gain public sympathy and discredit political opponents.
Audu, who also ran a Facebook page under the name Mallam Sheik Audu, reportedly used the platform to spread misleading posts and attack public figures.
He is now in police custody and will be charged for giving false information and staging a fake kidnapping, while investigations continue to determine if he had accomplices.
