Police arrest fake EFCC agents who allegedly kidnapped and extorted residents
Police in south-south Nigeria's Delta State say they have arrested suspects posing as Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) officers to break into houses to kidnap and extort residents.
State Police Spokesperson Bright Edafe disclosed in a statement on Friday.
Mr. Edafe, an assistant superintendent of police, said their arrest followed a series of complaints received from residents of the state, especially young people, alleging that "EFCC officers" usually break and enter. in their homes at night, with force. arrest them, take them away and extort them.
The police spokesman said the incident partly sparked the 'End EFCC' protest in Ughelli which led to the burning of more than 13 trucks and the destruction of property.< /p>
He said, one of the victims who filed a complaint with the police on November 16, said the suspects, claiming to be EFCC officers, broke into his apartment by climbing over their fence and l abducted him and took him away in a white Toyota Hiace bus.
The suspects also seized the victim's phones and other valuables worth around 3.7 million naira. They also forced him to transfer 2.5 million naira to them.
The thugs would later tell the victim that they would come back for him.
READ ALSO:Five other victims also reported to the police that the suspects also stole around N15 million from them, while posing as EFCC agents.
The police spokesperson said that given the series of complaints, it became clear to the police that the thugs were behind the activities, not EFCC officers.
"As a result, Delta State Police Commissioner Muhammed Ali has ordered the Command Decoy Squad to investigate, to ensure that they are arrested and brought to justice," said he said.
"In accordance with this directive, on November 23, Commander CP-Decoy ASP Julius Robinson, acting on credible information, led agents in an undercover operation, dragged them to 'to their hideout in a hotel (name withheld) located in Asaba where they are hibernating to plan their next operation and have arrested five suspects,” Mr. Edafe said.
He gave the names of the arrested suspects as Duke Okoro, 40, resident of Asaba, Delta State, Joseph Osinachi, 23, resident of Lagos State, and Stanley Onyocha, 32, resident of Lagos State. 'Owerri, Imo State.
Others are, Prince Allison, 29, a resident of Port Harcourt, River State and the leader of the union claiming to be EFCC contract staff in Port Harcourt, and Chisom Onyeweagu, 29, a resident of 'Owerri, Imo State, which operates Point of Sale (PoS) used to forcibly withdraw money from their victim's account.
The suspects confessed to robbing different victims in various parts of Delta, police said.
They also confessed that they sometimes lodged their victims in a hotel for days until they managed to extort them.
A white Hummer bus, two locally made EFCC jackets, a vending machine and eight cell phones were among the items recovered from the suspects, according to the police spokesperson.
Mr. Edafe said six victims identified the suspects as the people who broke into their homes under the guise of being EFCC agents.
He said police have launched a further investigation into the incident.
Mr. Ali, the state police commissioner, advised state residents, especially young people, not to take the laws into their own hands.
He assured residents that justice would be done and the suspects would be duly prosecuted.
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Police in south-south Nigeria's Delta State say they have arrested suspects posing as Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) officers to break into houses to kidnap and extort residents.
State Police Spokesperson Bright Edafe disclosed in a statement on Friday.
Mr. Edafe, an assistant superintendent of police, said their arrest followed a series of complaints received from residents of the state, especially young people, alleging that "EFCC officers" usually break and enter. in their homes at night, with force. arrest them, take them away and extort them.
The police spokesman said the incident partly sparked the 'End EFCC' protest in Ughelli which led to the burning of more than 13 trucks and the destruction of property.< /p>
He said, one of the victims who filed a complaint with the police on November 16, said the suspects, claiming to be EFCC officers, broke into his apartment by climbing over their fence and l abducted him and took him away in a white Toyota Hiace bus.
The suspects also seized the victim's phones and other valuables worth around 3.7 million naira. They also forced him to transfer 2.5 million naira to them.
The thugs would later tell the victim that they would come back for him.
READ ALSO:Five other victims also reported to the police that the suspects also stole around N15 million from them, while posing as EFCC agents.
The police spokesperson said that given the series of complaints, it became clear to the police that the thugs were behind the activities, not EFCC officers.
"As a result, Delta State Police Commissioner Muhammed Ali has ordered the Command Decoy Squad to investigate, to ensure that they are arrested and brought to justice," said he said.
"In accordance with this directive, on November 23, Commander CP-Decoy ASP Julius Robinson, acting on credible information, led agents in an undercover operation, dragged them to 'to their hideout in a hotel (name withheld) located in Asaba where they are hibernating to plan their next operation and have arrested five suspects,” Mr. Edafe said.
He gave the names of the arrested suspects as Duke Okoro, 40, resident of Asaba, Delta State, Joseph Osinachi, 23, resident of Lagos State, and Stanley Onyocha, 32, resident of Lagos State. 'Owerri, Imo State.
Others are, Prince Allison, 29, a resident of Port Harcourt, River State and the leader of the union claiming to be EFCC contract staff in Port Harcourt, and Chisom Onyeweagu, 29, a resident of 'Owerri, Imo State, which operates Point of Sale (PoS) used to forcibly withdraw money from their victim's account.
The suspects confessed to robbing different victims in various parts of Delta, police said.
They also confessed that they sometimes lodged their victims in a hotel for days until they managed to extort them.
A white Hummer bus, two locally made EFCC jackets, a vending machine and eight cell phones were among the items recovered from the suspects, according to the police spokesperson.
Mr. Edafe said six victims identified the suspects as the people who broke into their homes under the guise of being EFCC agents.
He said police have launched a further investigation into the incident.
Mr. Ali, the state police commissioner, advised state residents, especially young people, not to take the laws into their own hands.
He assured residents that justice would be done and the suspects would be duly prosecuted.
Support the integrity and credibility journalism of PREMIUM TIMES Good journalism costs a lot of money. Yet only good journalism can guarantee the possibility of a good society, an accountable democracy and a transparent government. For free and continued access to the best investigative journalism in the country, we ask that you consider providing modest support to this noble endeavour. By contributing to PREMIUM TIMES, you are helping to perpetuate quality journalism...What's Your Reaction?
