Student who faked own kidnap walks home after his mother fails to send ransom

Kanyan Policemen have arrested a Form Four student, Joseph Odhiambo, who faked his own abduction.

Joseph, 22, reportedly disappeared from home on Thursday, January 5, 2023.

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Awendo Sub-County Police Commander Mathias Pombo, who confirmed the development on Wednesday, told The Standard that the student’s mother filed a missing person’s report on Friday, January 6.

The Police commander said the student, who has since returned home, confessed to smearing cow blood on his vest and made a sharp distress scream before running away from his mother’s compound.

The man told police that it was his friend who advised him to do that to get money from his (suspect’s) mother.

“Shortly after wishing his mother good night at 9pm and departing for his house, he made a sharp distress call. When his mother rushed to his house, she only found her son’s blood-soaked vest,” Pombo said.

The following morning, the student’s mother went to the Awendo police post and filed a missing person’s report.

On Sunday, January 8, he slept at his friend’s house before embarking on a return-home journey, when it became clear to him that his mother won’t raise the Sh20,000 he’d demanded as ransom.

The suspect is being held in custody at Awendo Police Station as investigations continues.