Ogun State government security outfit, Amotekun, has arrested eight persons, including a female, for alleged conspiracy and obtaining under false pretence.

The suspects: Hadi Ibikanmi, Hounkpe Stephen, Ayinla Ibrahim, Lepe Omoniyi, Olabisi Opeifa and Sulaimon Yakub, as well as Samuel Ayerin and Juliet Maderubami, were alleged to have defrauded their victims to the tune of about N15 million.

They were arrested on 30th September, 2022, in a storey building located within a compound surrounded by three unoccupied bungalows in Idiroko, Ipokia Local Government Area by operatives of the State Amotekun Corps.

It was learnt that their arrest followed a tip-off that suspected criminal activities of about 100 young men and women of security concern to members of the public in the neighbourhood.

In the course of infiltrating into their ranks, a complaint was received from one Sheriff Mohammed, ‘who claimed to be a 300-level student of Federal University of Agriculture, Zura, Kebbi State, that he was defrauded by some of men in the said compound of the sum of N600,000 under the guise of facilitating his educational pursuit in a University owned by QUINET IM Nigeria Bulldozer Venture.

According to him, he was introduced to the syndicate by his elder brother, whom, he said, got to know about the QUINET Venture through some other sources on the company’s capacity to facilitate the pursuit of his educational career.

According to him, sometime in December 2021, one Hounkpe Stephen, a male, invited him from Kebbi State to Parakou, Benin Republic, asking him to come with the sum of N600,000 to enable him facilitate the process of continuation of his education in a University owned by the Company.

On 27th December, 2021 he parted with the said sum to Hounkpe Stephen and one Toheeb (now at large). However, to his dismay, no University admission was processed for him and when he demanded for the refund of his money in September 2022, he alleged that he was thoroughly beaten by the two suspects and other members of the syndicate while his bag containing his NECO, WASCE O/Level and Primary School Leaving Certificates, including the sum of N53,000 were stolen from him by the suspects.

Sources disclosed that when the activities of the syndicate became suspicious, the Benenois authorities dislodged them; hence they relocated to Idiroko in Ipokia Local Government Area and continued with their nefarious activities, even on a larger scale.

The sources added that after the arrest of the 10 suspects, other victims of their suspected fraudulent activities showed up with similar allegations of having been defrauded in similar circumstances.

Preliminary investigations have revealed that members of the syndicate have defrauded their victims to the tune of N15,000,000, both in Benin Republic and Nigeria.

The suspects, when interrogated, admitted that they received various sums of money from the complainants but that it was for the purpose of online business with a company domiciled in Malaysia.

According to them, when the monies were collected in cash, they handed over same to one Bruno ‘M’ (now at large), who is their boss and he, in turn, converted it to American Dollars and paid into an account which they are not privy to.

Efforts were, however, ongoing to apprehend the said leader of the syndicate still at large, while the arrested suspects and exhibits recovered from them have been transferred to the State CID of the Police Command for further investigation and possible prosecution.

The Police authorities have advised members of the public to be wary of fraudsters who, under the guise of online marketing and other forms of business ventures, lure unsuspecting victims with a view to defrauding them.

In another development, on 5th September, 2022, at about 11.35p.m, at Imo-Ayo Community, Ajibawo Atan Ota in Ado-Odo/Ota Local Government Area of Ogun State, one Felix Ikpeha ‘aged 30 years, was arrested with three female pants by operatives of Amotekun Corps, following an alarm raised by some members of the community who suspected his movement.

When the suspect was searched, three wet, bloodstained female pants were found in his possession for which he could not give any satisfactory explanation.

He, however, claimed to have removed them from dustbins but insisted he does not know the exact location where he picked them from.

The suspect, who hails from Warri in Delta State, is believed to be working for a syndicate involved in money and other rituals. He has been transferred to the Police for further investigation and possible prosecution.

The Commander, Amotekun Corps in Ogun State, a retired Commissioner of Police, David. Akinremi, confirmed the arrest. (The SUPREME)

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