The Yobe State Police Command has apprehended a five-member syndicate accused of defrauding unsuspecting victims across multiple states.

According to SP Dungus Abdulkarim, the Police Public Relations Officer for the command, the suspects include Abdullahi Suleman, Sani Salisu, and Nasiru Mohd, all from Gombe State, as well as Alhasan Illiya from Potiskum Local Government Area, Yobe State, and Weti Mohd from Ngorore, Adamawa State.

They were arrested through a joint operation by the State Intelligence Department (SID) and Tarmuwa Divisional Police Headquarters.

Explaining their method of operation, Abdulkarim said the group posed as travellers in need of assistance, duping their victims by claiming to perform rituals that would ward off enemies and bring prosperity. The syndicate’s latest victim, Mallam Audu Shehu of Shekau Village in Tarmuwa LGA, was defrauded of N500,000. However, the police recovered the stolen money during a search of the suspects’ possessions.

“The suspects confessed to the crime, revealing that this was their first operation in Yobe State. They also admitted to conducting similar fraudulent activities in Adamawa, Gombe, and Taraba states over the past three years,” Abdulkarim stated.

The Commissioner of Police, CP Garba Ahmed, reiterated the command’s commitment to ensuring the safety and security of residents. He urged the public to remain vigilant and to report suspicious activities to the nearest police station.

Yobe police arrest suspected fraudsters posing as prosperity ritualists