The Yobe State Police Command has arrested three suspected ATM fraudsters as part of its efforts to combat cybercrime and related offenses in the state.
The Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO), DSP Dungus Abdulkarim, announced the arrests in a statement on Saturday, describing it as a significant breakthrough in the fight against financial fraud.
According to Abdulkarim, the suspects, identified as Sani Kasim (35), Nura Umaru (24), and Umar Suleman (22), were apprehended on December 6, 2024, by operatives of the State Intelligence Department (SID).
“These individuals are part of a criminal syndicate targeting ATM users in the state.
They used clever tactics to deceive unsuspecting bank customers into revealing their PINs, after which they swapped the customers’ ATM cards and withdrew funds from their accounts,” he said.
The suspects reportedly confessed to the crime during interrogation. Items recovered from them include 47 ATM cards, four cellphones, and a Mercedes Benz vehicle.
DSP Abdulkarim revealed that six victims, including a visually impaired individual who lost N181,550, have so far identified the suspects as perpetrators of the fraud.
The police assured the public of their continued efforts to curb financial crimes and urged ATM users to exercise caution when seeking assistance while using banking facilities.
Investigations are ongoing, and the suspects will be charged to court upon completion of the inquiry.
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