A woman, Biola
Simon, has been arrested by the police in Lagos State for allegedly defrauding
bank customers after giving them fake prophecies in the Dopemu area. It was
learnt that Simon, who came from Ibadan, Oyo State, was arrested on Thursday by
the Dopemu Police Division, after one of her victims reported her to the
police.
Read according
to Punch:
While the
suspect was arrested, it was learnt that other suspected accomplices fled. Our
correspondent gathered that a sum of N150,000, which the woman had allegedly
swindled out from her victim, was
recovered by the policemen after the arrest.
A police
source at the Dopemu division said Simon belonged to a four-member syndicate
that specialised in defrauding unsuspecting bank customers in the area through
fake prophecies. He said, “In her statement, she confessed that the syndicate’s
mode of operation was to lurk around bank premises, while her role was to
accost a bank customer suspected to be with money.
“The suspect
explained that she would pretend that she was new in Lagos and asked for
direction from the victim. Simon would subsequently make shocking spiritual
revelations about her victim, after which she would advise that a special
prayer must be offered for the victim.
“The next move
was to take the victim to a nearby place where the three other accomplices were
waiting and they would replace the money withdrawn by the victim with
disposable papers, covered with a few naira notes.
“A man who the
suspect tried to swindle on Thursday of N150,000 raised the alarm, and a police
patrol team in the area apprehended Simon.” A witness, Rafiu Jimoh, said the
policemen had returned the money to the victim.
He said, “The
woman dressed responsibly, but she usually begged targeted customers coming out
of the bank to direct her to an address. She is believed to use magical powers,
as she will thereafter start giving revelations about her victim, luring the
person to go for prayers with her.
“While the
purported prayer is going on by the syndicate, the contents of the victim’s bag
or purse will be replaced with papers covered with a few real notes. They will
thereafter disappear with the money. “The woman was arrested on Thursday by a
police patrol team, but the three others escaped in a car. The stolen N150,000
was recovered and returned to the victim.”
The Lagos
State Police Public Relations Officer, SP Dolapo Badmos, confirmed Simon’s
arrest. “The state Commissioner of Police, Fatai Owoseni, has directed that the
suspect be charged to court,” she added.link
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