The operatives
of the Rapid Response Squad (RRS) of the Lagos State Police Command have
arrested four suspects for allegedly swindling unsuspecting members
of the
public of various sums of money.
The four
suspects were picked up separately by the operatives in three incidents of
fraud in Maryland, Ojodu Berger and Ajegunle between Tuesday and Thursday last
week.
The suspects,
Kenneth Umukoro, 36; Uba Utokcha, 41; Joseph Onuoha, 40 and Ikechukwu Okeke,
25, individually owned up to the crime when interrogated at RRS headquarters.
According to
one of the victims, Ibeh Chiwenu, she was going to Ojodu Berger from Ojota when
Kenneth Umukoro, driving a metallic colour Toyota Camry, 1997 model with the
registration number SMK 886 DK, stopped at the bus stop to pick her.
"As he
drove along, he picked another passenger on Kudirat Abiola Way. We were still
on Kudirat Abiola Way when the new passenger started a conversation on
something like French language with the driver… The driver now pleaded that he
wanted to take the new passenger to Customs’ Office on Mobolaji Bank Anthony
Way, where his goods were seized. It was here that their story changed and I
became the subject of their manipulation in connivance with a custom agent and
a pastor," she added.
She further
explained:
"Under
the pretext that the four of us assist the man whose goods were trapped with
the custom over export duties, they brainwashed me into releasing my ATM card,
led me to withdraw the last N9,000 from my account…. After this, the pastor
prayed for me and told me to go home and get more money that my family kept at
home."
"All
these happened last week. Today, Thursday, my husband and I were standing at
the Maryland Bus Stop. I saw the same Toyota Camry with same number plate and a
new driver, but beside him was the former driver that lured me into fraud,
pretending to be a passenger. I alerted RRS officers stationed in Maryland and
they arrested them."
The two other
suspects, Joseph Onuoha and Ikechukwu Okeke were arrested separately but in a
similar circumstance on Tuesday and Wednesday respectively. Onuoha, confessed
to interrogators that he belonged to a fraud syndicate led by one man simply
identified as Toronto, adding that their leader, who is now at large, trained
over 40 of them to go out daily in search of would-be victims.
"When we
hit jackpot, we share it into five parts. Toronto takes two parts. Two of us in
a team share two and we would share the remaining part to others…. Presently,
our office in Ajegunle has been busted by the police. Toronto as I was told has
relocated to somewhere in Surulere. Whenever we have issues with the police, he
comes around to secure our bail," Onuoha said.
Responding to
the development, the Police Public Relations Officer, Superintendent Dolapo
Badmos, said that the police won’t relent on their duties of making the state
crime free but warned members of the public to be wary of suspicious dealings.
The four
suspects have been transferred to the State Criminal Investigation Department
(SCID), Panti.
Follow Solenzo Blog on
0 Comments