Police Operatives serving in Hawk Tactical Squad of the Enugu State Command, together with Troops of the Nigerian Air Force Enugu, have arrested four notorious fraudsters.
Nigeriacrime.com gathered that the suspects were intercepted on 6th May 2023 at about 4.30 pm, in Emene, Enugu.
The criminal syndicate identified as Michael Sopuruchi aged 36, Osinachi Godwin aged 18 and Moses Ani aged 29, and a mother of four (4), Chika Nwoko aged 29, while escaping to their above-mentioned criminal hideout in Enugu.
Confirming the arrest, DSP Daniel Ndukwe, Police Public Relations Officer, Enugu State Command, State said the suspects were arrested, while escaping to their above-mentioned criminal hideout in Emene, Enugu after they fraudulently stole the ATM Card and Personal Identification Number (PIN) of an unsuspecting 63-year-old male victim.
They were pretending to assist him withdraw money from a commercial Bank ATM along Ogui Road, Enugu. Immediately after, the suspects used the Card and PIN to withdraw the total sum of four hundred and ninety-five thousand Naira (N495,000.00) from the victim’s account.”
Meanwhile, the suspects confessed to the crime, stating that they have carried out many other criminal acts of ATM Cards swapping and fraud within Enugu metropolis, while four (4) different banks’ ATM Cards, including that of the victim, were recovered from them.
Meanwhile, the suspects were, arraigned in court, on 23rd May 2023 where the Magistrate ordered that they should be remanded in Enugu Custodial Centre, while the case is adjourned to 07/06/2023 for further hearing and the case file was transmitted to the Attorney General for legal advice, through the Director of Public Prosecution (DPP), Ministry of Justice, Enugu State.
While commending the Joint Operatives for busting and bringing the criminal syndicate to book, the Commissioner of Police, CP Ahmed Ammani, called on bank customers, particularly the elderly and those without proper knowledge of how to use ATMs of banks, to exercise caution and seek the assistance of Banks’ staff while using their Cards on the Machine.