By ABBAS BAMALLI

The Police Command in Katsina State has arrested four suspects who specialise in swapping their victim’s Point of Sales (POS) machines and withdrawing their money.

The spokesman of the command, ASP Abubakar Aliyu, who disclosed this while parading some suspects in Katsina on Thursday, said seven POS machines were recovered.

“In the course of investigation, it was revealed that the syndicate would criminally swap the POS machines of unsuspecting victims with fake ones that looked identical, and then criminally withdraw money from the victims’ accounts.

“The suspects had swindled five victims who were mostly business owners over ₦4.7 million.

“The suspects confessed to the commission of the crime and investigation is ongoing. At the end of the investigation, the suspect will be charged to court,” he said.

The PPRO added that with the aid of some good samaritans, their operatives succeeded in arresting the suspects while attempting to rob a commercial tricycle rider as other members of the syndicate escaped.

Aliyu said, “The syndicate’s modus operandi is to drug their victims by offering them drinks laced with sedatives before robbing them of their tricycles.

“In the course of investigation, two other victims identified the suspect, corroborating his involvement in the crimes robbing them of their tricycles valued at ₦1.6 million, and ₦2.250 million respectively.”

According to him, the command had also succeeded in arresting a suspected member of a syndicate of armed robbers who have been terrorising commercial tricyclists (KEKE NAPEP) in the state.

He explained that the suspect was arrested in connection with a string of armed robberies targeting unsuspecting commercial tricycle riders.

According to Aliyu, the command has also succeeded in arresting another suspect in connection with a rape case of a 16-year-old girl. (NAN)