By; RAYMOND TEDUNJAYE, Lagos
Detectives attached to the Zone 2 Command of the Nigeria Police Force, Onikan Lagos, have reportedly arrested a member of a syndicate that specialises in stealing people’s phones and using their SIM Cards to transfer money from victims’ respective bank accounts.
The suspect, identified as Ogbonnaya Jnr Duru, as learnt, was apprehended by detectives attached to the Zonal Inquiry Bureau (ZIB) Unit of the Command.
Our correspondent gathered that the arrest of Duru followed complaints from victims to the Assistant Inspectors-General of Police AIG Muhammed Ari Ali in charge of the Zone on the criminal activities of the syndicate.
While confirming the arrest in a statement on Wednesday, the Zonal Public Relations Officer, SP Hauwa Idris Adamu, said Ogbonnaya Jnr who originally trained as a Trailer Mechanic, claimed he was introduced into the crime by one Kareem who lives in Ajegunle.
According to the release, the suspect said he had been in the business since 2019 and had associates across the country.
SP Hauwa added, “Upon intelligence received by the Assistant Inspector General of Police Zone 2 Command, AIG Ari Mohammed Ali, that there is a syndicate of young Nigerians who specialize in stealing phones from members of the public and further transferring monies from their BVN/Bank linked SIM cards.
” The AIG then detailed operatives of the Zonal Enquiry Bureau to discretely investigate and apprehend the syndicate.
“Based on the directive of the AIG one Ogbonnaya Junior Duru ‘m’ was arrested after serious efforts had been made.
” Ogbonnaya Junior Duru ‘m’ who hailed from Orlu Local Government Area of Imo State is a Trailer Mechanic by profession and he has his workshop along Trinity Area of Berger Cement, Apapa Lagos.
“When asked about his involvement in the alleged crime; he confessed to being introduced to the criminal act by his friend one Kareem ‘m’ who lives in Ajegunle Area of Apapa Lagos in the year 2019 and he has been in the business of criminality since then.
” His Modus Operandi: When other members of the syndicate (Praise ‘m’, Emmanuel ‘m’ and Osaron ‘m’) whose areas of specialization is to steal mobile phones from members of the public either by Pick-Pocket, one-chance robbery and other means have stolen the phones, they bring the SIM cards to Ogbonnaya Junior Duru ‘m’ who finds out which bank (s) is/are the SIM cards linked to, check the account balance, reset the USSD pin and transfer funds from the owner’s account to accounts provided by a member of the syndicate (one Joshua ‘m’ a.k.a. ALERT) currently at Large who takes 20% of the proceed and returns 80% either in cash or transfer to Ogbonnaya Junior Duru ‘m’ who takes 40% of the proceed and delivers 40% to whoever brings the BVN/Bank linked SIM card.
Continuing, Hauwa said, “
The Zone 2 Command spokesperson added that the suspect further confessed that there are other suspects who consult him from Rivers, Akwa Ibom and Cross River States who later send him consultation fees and that the least he has transferred from an account is One Hundred Thousand Naira (N100,000:00k) while the maximum he has transferred is One Million, Four Hundred Thousand Naira (N1,400,000:00k).
” He added that the said Joshua ‘m’ (popularly known as ALERT) operates many accounts with different banks and as such will make the funds available for sharing the same day; No Delays.”When asked how many SIM cards he has fraudulently transferred monies from? He said he averagely works on 5-6 sim cards in a week and after the did had been done he returns the sim cards to whoever brought it but he cannot recollect the number of sim cards he has transferred money from”, Hauwa said.
Ogbonnaya Junior Duru ‘m’ listed Union Bank, First Bank of Nigeria, Fidelity Bank, Ecco Bank, Wema Bank and Sterling Bank as banks that are difficult for him to transfer monies from while he listed United Bank for Africa UBA, First City Monument Bank FCMB, Polaris Bank, Access Bank, Guarantee Trust Bank GTB and Stanbic IBTC Bank as banks very easy for him to transfer from.
The Command therefore, advised members of the public to beware of these criminal elements in the society and ensure they secure their valuables very well while criminals are warned to relocate from Lagos and Ogun States which form the Zone 2 Command else the long arm of the law will catch up with them soonest
