The Police in Niger state have arrested 14 internet fraudsters in Minna while five other criminals have also been apprehended in other parts of the state for unlawful possession of 10 guns.
The Police Public Relations Officer of the Niger state police command, ASP Abiodun Wasiu stated this in a press statement in Minna.
He said, “On 30/1/2021 at about 1020hrs, based on credible information, Police Operatives attached to Tundun-Wada Division arrested the following suspects; Amos Sheriff, Omokhafe Nelson, Amos Suleiman, Uduafemhi John , Sado Anthony , Okumagbe Sheriff, Chukwu Joshua, Peter Moses, Abdulrasheed Malik, Isah Lawal, Thomas Marvelous, Aigbona Gift all of Edo State, Thomas Daniel, Braise Williams both of Kogi State.”
He said that the suspects were arrested at Farm Center area of Minna when Thomas Daniel allegedly stole a phone from Amos Sheriff’s home after a visit, adding that an alarm was raised and he was arrested.
According to the PPRO, preliminary investigation revealed that both Omokhafe Nelson and Amos Sheriff jointly rented a two flat apartment at the rate of N2.5million where about twelve of the suspects live and converge with their friends.
He said, “During interrogation, Sheriff and Nelson confessed to have engaged in internet fraud since year 2019 and embarked on coaching/training nine other suspects for same exercise, they further confessed to have realized over N12 million from different victims through fake Bitcoin investment chat.”
He said that the suspects also told police operatives that part of the proceeds were used to pay for the house rent, established a boutique valued about four million naira which is being managed by Aigbona Gift and bought a Lexus RS 350 at the rate of three million, eight hundred thousand naira which they had an accident with, on 25th December, 2020 at Edo State.
Items recovered from the suspects according the ASP Wasiu include; Three iPhones, One HP laptop, Six Tecno phones, 11 laptop chargers, Shisha box containing smoking gadgets.
He said that three other suspects, namely Abubakar Sadiq, Danladi Abdullahi and Dadi Suleiman were also arrested with nine double barrel locally fabricated guns in Katcha area of the state on February 1, 2021.
He said that the suspects were arrested at Kpata area of Katcha during an attempt to board a canoe and cross to Abugi village of Kogi State, adding that “when searched; nine (9) locally fabricated double barrel guns were recovered from them. During interrogation, the suspects confessed to have bought the guns from Beri, Mariga LGA.”
He said that another locally fabricated pistol was recovered from Adamu Jubrin and Isah Alhassan in Kampani village via Sarkin Pawa in Munya local government of the state on 28/01/2021
According to him, when searched, one locally fabricated pistol with four cartridges, one jacknife and assorted charms were recovered from them. During interrogation, the said Jibrin confessed that he bought the pistol at the rate N13, 000.00 from one late Mohammed Baushe of Bodi village, Bida”. He said suspects will be arraigned in court for prosecution.
